A taiko drum is a traditional Japanese instrument as well as the name of the performance using said drum. The drums come in countless shapes and sizes and are used in various performances, predominantly during Japanese cultural festivals. Performers will play the drums in rhythm using drum sticks called bachi which likewise come in a variety of shapes and sizes based on the drum. It is common for taiko drummers to yell to keep themselves and each other in time, indicate a change in tempo, or simple encouragement. When practicing, taiko players can use onomatopoeia to indicate when and where to hit the drum, since traditional sheet music isn't really used in Taiko. For example, the onomatopoeia "don" indicates hitting the center of the drum while "ka" indicates hitting the side of the drum, among other chants.
Taiko has been a notable part of Japan's storied history for many many many years and as such there are tons of different variations of both the drums and the performances depending on the region. The drums have been in Japan's history dating back to 588 CE and were even used as war drums to motivate troops and send marching orders. Taiko is truly a cornerstone of Japanese culture and is quite fascinating to read about! Below is an example of a taiko performance!
