Taiko

The taiko drum is a traditional Japanese drum with a wooden body and heads made of stretched cow or horse skin, with sticks. Taiko scours the world for ethnic rhythms that lend their performances at time a strong swift intensity, and at times, a soft, sweet elegance. Taiko performances that you are most likely to encounter today were invented by jazz drummer, Oguchi Daihachi. Oguchi is the leader of the influential "Osuwa-Daiko" ensemble and chairman of the all Japan Taiko League. Popular Taiko performances have been used in farming and fishing villages to pray for good harvests and catches, or to appease the spirits of ancestors.