| Japanese taiko drums are perhaps some of the | | | | troops, setting a marching pace, or |
| most dramatic percussion instruments ever | | | | disseminating orders. In everyday life, both |
| created. Originally used in both Japanese | | | | then and now, the drums are used in the |
| folk and classical musical traditions, taiko | | | | religious music of both Shinta, Japan's |
| drumming has moved with the times and evolved | | | | native religion, and Buddhism, which was |
| into a modern art form called kumi-daiko, | | | | imported some time around the 5th century. |
| which refers to ensemble taiko drumming. | | | | Additionally, noh theatre, kabuki theatre, |
| Exhibitions of kumi-daiko can include taiko | | | | and gagaku, the traditional music of the |
| of all different shapes, sizes, and pitches. | | | | Japanese imperial court, utilize the sounds |
| Anywhere from one to dozens of performers use | | | | of taiko drums. |
| sticks called "bachi" to strike the | | | | |
| instruments. | | | | As previously mentioned, modern taiko |
| | | | performances take the form of kumi-daiko, or |
| There are many different types of taiko, but | | | | ensemble drumming. Daihachi Oguchi is |
| they all share one feature-heads on both | | | | credited with forming the first modern taiko |
| sides of the body, which are characterized by | | | | ensemble, Osuwa Daiko, in Japan in 1951. |
| a high level of tension. Such a design is | | | | However, there have been several other |
| most likely the result of Japan's summer | | | | influential taiko groups. Sukeroku Daiko also |
| climate, which is very hot and humid. Drum | | | | emerged in the early 1950s, and the group's |
| heads with high levels of tension would | | | | performances were heralded for their speed, |
| counteract the slacking effects of that | | | | fluidity, power, choreography, and solo |
| humidity. Taiko drums can range greatly in | | | | performances. In 1969, Za Ondekoza was |
| size, but largest is the Adaiko. Such drums | | | | founded by Tagayasu Den. This group would |
| are made from a single piece of wood, often | | | | eventually evolve into Kodo, one of the |
| from trees that were hundreds of years old | | | | world's most recognized performance ensembles |
| when finally felled. Indeed, some Adaiko are | | | | and host of the Earth Celebration |
| so large that once they've been placed in a | | | | International Music Festival since 1988. |
| Shinta shrine or Buddhist temple, they are | | | | |
| never moved again. Other types of taiko drums | | | | Over the past few decades, taiko drumming has |
| include the shime-daiko (which is available | | | | seen a significant increase in popularity in |
| in various sizes), uchiwa-daiko (fan drum), | | | | the United States. The first American taiko |
| hira-daiko (flat drum), and o-daiko (big | | | | group, San Francisco Taiko Dojo, was formed |
| drum). | | | | in 1968 by Seiichi Tanaka, a post-war |
| | | | Japanese immigrant. Other similar groups |
| The existence of the taiko drum can be traced | | | | followed and in 1990, students at UCLA formed |
| back to 6th century Japan. It will come as no | | | | the first intercollegiate taiko ensemble, |
| surprise to anyone who has attended a taiko | | | | Kyodo Taiko. This founding marked a new and |
| performance that in feudal times, these | | | | popular trend for taiko in the United States. |
| instruments were often used for martial | | | | Today, it is estimated that 36 collegiate and |
| purposes. Their resounding and invigorating | | | | 300 independent taiko groups exist in |
| resonances were ideal for motivating the | | | | America. |