The taiko, which literally means "great drum" or "fat drum", has been a part of traditional Japanese music for over a thousand years. Today, taiko drum shows combine classical music, battle calls, and Broadway theatrics, resulting in a powerful performance unique to the culture of Japan.
History of Taiko
Taiko drums were originally part of Gagaku, which is the most ancient form of Japanese classical music. Japan was introduced to Gagaku and Buddhism during an influx of influence from India, China, and the Korean peninsula during the late 500's.
Like many drums, taiko drums were often used during war, both to intimidate and to send messages, as the deep sound from the drum was enough to carry over the noise of battle.
But the taiko drum also has deep religious meaning for the people of Japan. The low rumble of the drum is so awe-inspiring that stories of gods inhabiting the instruments have been told for hundreds of years, and as a result taiko drumming has become a permant fixture in both Buddhism and Shintoism. Today it is not unusual to find taiko drums in shrines and temples throughout Japan.
Modern Taiko
Taiko drums come in many sizes. The odaiko is the largest of them, and possibly the largest drum in the world. These drums are made from a single piece of wood, often from trees that are centuries old.
Jazz drummer Daihachi Oguchi is credited with changing the traditional sound of taiko arrangements to the more modern approach used today. Oguchi was the first person to use several sizes of taiko drums in an ensemble, creating a set-up of drums with different pitches and sounds, much like a drumset.
Several taiko groups formed in the years following Oguchi, including the ensemble Sukeroku Daiko, which is known for introducing the energetic dance, choreography, and solos now common with a taiko drumming performance. After a falling out between the founders, Seido Kobayashi left Sukeroku Daiko to start another ensemble, Oedo Sukeroku Daiko, Japan's first professional taiko group.
In 1969, the group Za Ondekoza was formed by Tagayasu Den. Living together on Sado Island, Den and his group treated taiko drumming as a way of life, with strict exercise, training, and rehearsals on a regular basis.
Kodo
When Den left the group, a few of the original members stayed together to form the internationally acclaimed ensemble known as Kodo. Today, Kodo is synonomous with taiko drumming, to the point where the art form is often mistakenly referred to as "Kodo drumming."
Kodo continues to tour Asia, Europe, and the United States. The shows are colorful and flashy, with smaller acts including dance and comedy interspersed with the bigger, more serious taiko arrangements.
The group is still based on Sado Island, where they regularly hold workshops designed to help Japanese youth discover more about their cultural heritage and themselves. For more information, visit their official website.
Learn More About Taiko Drumming
For more information on taiko drumming, visit taiko.com. Kodo regularly updates their tour information on their website, or for a more interactive experience, try Playstation's Taiko Drum Master.
Michelle Schusterman - Michelle is a musician and freelance writer just trying to see the world while doing what she loves for a living. After graduating from ...
