Taiko drumming Taiko drums are the huge traditional Japanese ceremonial drums pictured above. The word Taiko literally means 'Fat drum' but 'taiko' is also used to describe the general style of Japanese drumming. Taiko drumming is thought to be an ancient tradition because historians know that the taiko drum existed and was used in ancient Japan over 2000 years ago. Types and styles of drums: Byou-daiko Byou-daiko (also called byou uchi-daiko) have bodies that are traditionally carved from a single log, and heads that are traditionally carved from a single log, and heads that are stretched onto the taiko and tacked in place. Hard wood like the Japanese elm is thought to be the best material for a full, rich drum sound. The drum skins are often made from cow hide that is stretched and tacked to the wooden shell. Odaiko Odaiko can reach huge sizes, sometimes weighing in at over three tons and spanning six feet wide. These Mammoth Odaiko are often built for shrines or temples, and their cost can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The term is usually used for taiko drums that have a head over three feet in diameter. Odaiko are typically placed on a stand and played sideways horizontally, often by two people at once. one player will beat out a basic rhythm while the second player solos. Taiko Technique The way that Taiko is performanced is widely different across different groups in terms of the number of performers, instrument choices and stage techniques. Taiko drumming is similar to martial arts like karate. Drummers use certain stances, foot and leg positions and movements throughout their performance- this is called Kata. An important part of the performance is to keep stable and keep your shoulders and hips relaxed. The sticks for playing taiko are called bachi, and are made in various sizes and can be made from different kinds of wood such as white oak, bamboo, and Japanese magnolia.[114] Bachi are also held in a number of styles Performance in some groups is also guided by principles based on Zen Buddhism. Each drum is played with the bachi sticks and each drum has its own important role. Kumi-daiko groups consist primarily of percussive instruments where each of the drums plays a specific role. Ō-daiko play a steady, underlying pulse and serves as a counter-rhythm to the other parts. It is common for performances to begin with a single stroke roll called an oroshi (颪 "wind blowing down from mountains"). The player starts slowly, leaving considerable space between strikes, gradually shortening the interval between hits, until the drummer is playing a rapid roll of hits. Oroshi are also played as a part of theatrical performance, such as in Noh theater. Voiced calls or shouts called kiai are also common in taiko performance. They are used as encouragement to other players or cues for transition or change in dynamics such as an increase in tempo. Clothing There is a wide variety of traditional clothing that players wear during taiko performance. Common in many kumi-daiko groups is the use of the happi, a decorative, thin-fabric coat, and traditional headbands called hachimaki. .