Taiko Drumming

Taiko are the amazing, impressive, and wonderfully powerful heartbeat drums of Japan. Taiko literally means “Big Drum,” but also refers to kumi-daiko, the ensemble group drumming growing in popularity over the last half century. Borrowing on thousands of years of tradition, taiko groups are now taking the style worldwide. Taiko promises to be the first native Japanese music to spread through the world. Taiko has been spreading in North America since its introduction in the 1960s by the “Father of North American Taiko,” Seiichi Tanaka. You may have seen Taiko performed at a Cherry Blossom Festival or an Asian Arts event, or seen the world-renowned Kodo, the electrifying DrumTAO or our regional Taiko groups Miyake Taiko, The Mark H Taiko Connection (MHTX), Nen Daiko, or Pittsburgh Taiko.

Learn more about Japanese Taiko Drumning on The Taiko Page.

Shangö Percussion had been incorporating Taiko sound into our worldbeat jams during the later years before COVID, and it‘s been great fun! We’d like to share with you this powerful and expressive drum tradition. Shangö Taiko Player & Facilitator Kurt Griffith is very comitted to cultivating more local Taiko players. More players, more fun, more DON!