“tai-ko”

WHAT IS TAIKO?

In Japanese, taiko means “wide” or “thick” drum. The word taiko generally refers to the various types of Japanese drums and to the musical art form of taiko drumming.

It is thought that taiko developed in Japan sometime during 710- 794 C.E. as a synthesis of indigenous culture with influence from Korea and China. Taiko was used in religious ceremonies and was played to drive away evil spirits and pests, to invoke rain, and to celebrate a successful harvest. In feudal Japan, taiko was used to summon an ally to battle, to motivate troops and to intimidate the enemy.

Today, ensemble taiko drumming (with drums often accompanied by vocals, string and woodwind instruments) is a well-recognized, exhilarating, dynamic, and spiritual musical art form with taiko groups established all over the world.