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 The History of Taiko |
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| The literal translation of the Japanese word taiko is "big/fat drum," although there is a variety of shapes and sizes of taiko available and used. Taiko is an indigenous part of the Japanese culture dating back more than 1400 years. Taiko referred to the Japanese art of drumming associated with religious ceremonies, festivities and various other occasions in ancient and modern Japan. | |
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| Long ago, taiko was beaten in warfare to boost the morale of the troops and to fool invading armies into believing that a formidable opposition was on the march. It was also used as a communication method among the neighboring villages as taiko's deep, thunderous sound traveled for miles. Taiko has also been associated with the gods and religions of Japan. Above all, however, the most popular use of taiko, past and present, has been at festivals. | |
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Along with all the stories that come behind the taiko, we will share with you one of many tales that we have heard -- one that can relate to all cultures and why we think taiko is something that can relate to everyone of us as individuals. The first sounds heard by the human fetus in the womb, is the sound of the mother's heartbeat -- deep, rhythmical, warm, and comforting. Grandmaster Daihachi Oguchi once said that we play taiko to mimic the heartbeat we all have. This is probably one of the most universal reasoning. Modern performance taiko evolved in the 1950s by the strong influence of Grandmaster Daihachi Oguchi of Suwa, Japan. After a period of transition from western jazz drumming to oriental taiko drumming, he was able to introduce the uniqueness of the Japanese Taiko to the people. His affection for jazz drumming has enabled him to incorporate certain skills into the traditional rhythm of the scripted monotonous taiko beats, thus making them more affluent of energy and life. He has contributed considerably in the formation of the modern style of ensemble taiko drumming ("kumi-daiko"). |
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| The first formal introduction of taiko to the United States was in 1968 by Master Seiichi Tanaka with the formation of the first North American taiko group - San Francisco Taiko Dojo. He and his group went on to inspire many, if not most, of the taiko groups throughout the America. Since then, taiko has not only become popular but has also become a part of the universal musical language drawing our world closer together. | |