Hi Edubloggers,

 

Here is a long, yet  enduring history of taiko.

 

Taiko, which was believed to be created by a Goddess sitting on a sake or rice wine barrel. The original origin span to almost the beginning of time during the Heian (794- 1185,) When Japanese starting trading with the Silk Road. In China, they started making drums out of pine wood. Being the curious voyagers they are, they copied the tradition using it in their own rituals. The drum has a simple anatomy of a drum shell made out of some sacred wood, with rawhide skin stretched on both sides held with circular tacks called byou. Since that era to the Meiji Era, it was used in feudal wars to scare off opponents, retrieve homage from the gods, and when Buddhism was introduced throughout Asia, it was used in ceremonies.

 

Later during the late Meiji Period to the Edo Period, there Japanese have started experimenting it with entertainment. In Noh, Kabuki, and Bunraku theatre which used quier masks, small hand drums called Ootsumi and Kotsumi,  a Taiko Drum pulled taut with rope called a shime daiko, and many yells called Kakigoe. Bon dance is a traditional event in Japan which is a Buddhist way to revisit deceased loved ones. The taiko reverdibrates into the heart as fierce participants beat the drum with a piece called “Matsuri,” or “Fukushima Ondo.”

 

 

After Edo was renamed Tokyo, it also spread to the Okinawa Prefectural where is north of the Philippines. Here, drummers copy Japanese okedo drums which are drums similar to shime daiko but has a longer body and can be worn with a strap. However, it is like a Taiko drum but made with pine so it can be slung across the shoulder. They also mimicked shines which look very similar to Edo Shimes, Black outside rings, a Brown shell, and bright orange rope, except, the rope is red.

 

While all this is happening, other Japanese prefectures such as Miyake-Jima, where the drum is situated on a low horizontal stand where people bend down low to play simple, but very powerful beats. If that doesn’t amaze you, tough high grade cowhide can last 10 years in a normal taiko group if played frequently. However, while playing this style, it needs to be changed every year.

 

Another style is Onbayashi, which is synonymous with the song “Yatai Bayashi,” which was invented in a small city in the Kanto region of japan called Chichibu, making it logical to also call it “Chichibu Yatai Bayashi.” the drum is situated on a slanted stand that is shorter that a sukeroku or slanted stand for a reason. The players have to play the drums right in front of them. If you don’t know, this drum requires a strong core to play as you have to reach back to make it look professional and improve the accents.

 

Later in the 20th century, Taiko groups have blossomed all over Japan which the late Taiko Master, Daiihachi Oguchi attended. After studying Japanese Taiko for many years and being a active participant in a jazz group, Daiihachi Sensei wanted to experiment with the two styles creating a new style called Kumi Daiko, which is ensemble Taiko. His train of thought was the Shrill Shime being like a snare drum and the Nagado or regular big drums being like Tom toms.

 

Daihachi Sensei influenced many Taiko players and masters today like Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka whose the main instructor in the San Francisco Taiko Dojo which was the first group to start in the US. After that, hundreds of taiko groups started in the America, Canada, Philippines, South America, and the Oceania region. Since it is hard to get a nice piece of Keyaki or Japanese Zelnova wood, most American Taiko Groups make their drums out of oak wine barrels. They glue the staves together to make it circular.

 

Taiko has come a long way since the 2nd century as in stance or Kata, Bachi (or sticks,) and preparation of the drum, and even making games with it. However,  proof of preserving a tradition as old as earth will help make you more connected to the world.

Bye,

 

HMSchad