In Japan, Taiko means big or wide drum, played in a combination of beat and movement. The earliest proof of the Japanese using Taiko was the clay drummers dating back to the 7th century. However, many people believe it to have been around for at least 2,000 years. In the 1950s, Taiko was spread to the Western world, evolving considerably. Taiko is evocative of Japanese history, art, culture, and tradition.
According to Japanese folk lore, Taiko was created when a free-spirited goddess, Uzume, tried to lure the sun goddess Amaterasu to come out of the cave she was hiding in. She emptied a barrel, turned it upside down, and began pounding on it, using club moss and a branch of the Sakaki tree while dancing. This amused the gods and goddesses so much that everyone started to join in the fun. Amaterasu, curious about the excitement outside, went out of the cave, bringing light to the land.
In the 1500s, Taiko was used in battlefields to frighten the enemies with its powerful sounds. Additionally, codes of commands were given out to soldiers by using the Taiko. In time, Taiko became more popular for its musical purpose. It is often used in the Gagaku, which is court music for the Japanese Imperial Household.
During the 19th and early 20th century, Taiko drumming was going through a great decline. The revival of Taiko was largely attributed to Daihachi Oguchi, who formed a band, collected drum pieces, and began playing Taiko with much spirit. Their exceptional performances encouraged other bands to start playing Taiko as well. Kodo, a world-class Taiko drumming group, was also instrumental in revitalizing Taiko during the 80s. This group of 48 members still conducts concert tours in Europe, the US, and Japan.
The basics of Taiko are not really hard to grasp. Anyone can get a Taiko drum and start banging away. For those who aspire to have a career in Taiko, going to a music school that specializes in this traditional Japanese music is the best alternative. The Taiko Academy in the UK has a very intensive training program for those who want to take up Taiko drumming as a profession. The Waidako Rindo in Melbourne has 90 students, and has been performing all over Australia since 1998. The San Francisco Taiko Dojo currently has 200 students of varying age, ethnicity, and profession. This school has been performing worldwide for the past 35 years.
Taiko has been a great influence in music, especially in the developed countries. Many people have expressed great enthusiasm for Taiko, creating a vast library of Taiko music and sound downloads on the internet. In the US, you can find Taiko supplies, such as DIY products, shirts, pants, and more. A lot of literature has also been published about Taiko. One of the most influential is the Way of the Taiko, written by Heidi Varian.