Wadaiko histrory

Japanese performing dance and taiko, have been originated by the mythology of the goddess "Ame no uzume no mikoto".

The sun goddess, "Amaterasu oomikami", an ancestor of our emperor, got angry at her brother, "Susano o no mikoto, for being so violent. She shut herself into a rock cave (Ama no iwato). At her disappearance, the world became completely dark, and evil gods appeared one after another, bringing sadness and destruction.

Because of this problem, many gods held a meeting at the shore of the river called "Ama no yasukawa no kawara". After long discussion, they decided to follow the suggestion of the most intelligent god, "Omoi kane no kimi". Three gods followed his instruction.
1. "Ishikoridome no mikoto", brought a mirror.
2. "Tamano oya no mikoto", brought a necklace.
3. "Ame no koyane no mikoto", prepared ceremonial branches.

When these preparations were completed, Ame no koyane mikoto" began to read a Shinto ritual prayer, "Ame no uzume no mikoto" began to dance in the nude.

All the gods burst into laughter to see her dancing. "Amaterasu oomikami turned her attention to the commotion outside, wondering why everyone was so happy, while the world was dark. As she turned, the mighty god "Tejikara ono mikoto" pulled her out of the cave, and light returned to the world.

This myth may be reflected in two festivals, called "Ken name sai" and "shikinensencho", which are held at the ancient Ise Shrine.

Because of the success of " Ame no uzume no mikoto's"dancing, people came to believe in the power of stamping and other rhythmic sound to influence the gods. This belief extends to include the Japanese drum, which people came to think af as being mysteriously powerful. This belief also gave birth to the following proverbs.
1. If you beat the drum carelessly, goblins became violent.
2. If you beat a drum at midnight, ghosts appear.
3. If you beat a drum during the day, the gods get angry and send strong winds.

The above proverbs forbid people to beat drums thoughtlessly, but people are encouraged to beat drums at festivals to foster the benevolent of the gods.

The history and the development of taiko

The Japanese drum had been an important instrument since ancient times, and was used for hunting communication, to attract and/or threaten animals, and to inspire soldiers in battle. It was also used by the common people at festivals, and with floating lanterns to invoke the spirits of the dead. Drums have also been used as "Houko", to tell people the correct time. Even at present, drums have a wide variety of uses.

"Gagaku", or court music, which utilizes taiko, came from China or Korea during the Kamakura period. In Japan, this music has come to be used in Noh plays and in Kabuki performances.

The Bon festival dances all over Japan, and the rhythmic of many other festivals, also require taiko, and these different musical styles have given birth to many distinct ways of playing the taiko, which, when played with skill, makes a deep impression on an audience.

The folk performing arts and drums

Japanese people have liked singing and dancing since ancient times, but they have not been very good at inventing or creating musical instruments. There are only a few kinds of traditional musical instruments in Japan; therefore, we do not have large ensembles, such as the western orchestra.

Only court music, which was introduced from China, enables us to enjoy ensemble music. Other traditional instruments, usually played individually, such as koto, biwa, taiko and shakubachi were also introduced from China. What would the music of Japan be like, without this instruments from abroad?

As mentioned earlier. Japanese people have never been skillful at inventing musical instruments. One reason for this has been the importance of vocal music, such as singing, story-telling and "tonae goto" (reciting). Musical instruments were regarded merely as accompaniment for a singer.

"Shamisen" and "Koto" originally played melodies, but currently they are used mainly as rhythm instruments. There is little solo music for "Shamisen" or for "Biwa". Most Japanese instruments were rhythm instruments, except for the wind instruments such as "Noukan", "Shinobue" and "Shakuhachi". Among the rhythm instruments, thw drum, the taiko, plays the most important role.

There are many different drums, classified according to shape as either.
1. Miya daiko
2. Shine daiko

Drum can also be classified according to tone (Hira daiko, O hyoshi, Kango, etc.) Actually, in Japan we have few different musical instruments, but we have a wide variety of drums. This fact suggests that people have always needed and liked drums.

Drums are indispensable to the folk performing arts all over Japan. For example, Bon festival dances are all done to the beat of drums. Drums play an important role in other folk arts, such as "Taiko odori", "Katsu ko mai", "Hounen daiko" (for rich harvest), "Kyoku daiko" (melody), etc. The drums are easy to play and everyone can sing and dance to their beat.

At festival many people crowd around a drum, performing a type of prayer. To pray for rain, people beat the drum repeatedly, invoking the rain god, asking for his help. At harvest time, people hit the drum with a willow branch (symbolizing a hoe) as if they were leveling the ground, and they hit the drum by hand, as if seeding the fields. "Osuwa daiko" in Nagano prefecture and "Hounen daiko" in Ishikawa prefecture, are religious drum performances which originated in Japan. However, recently people forget the religious aspects and the participants feel the sound of the drumbeat as a musical rather than religious experience.

Occasionally, the drum's use is totally symbolic rather than musical, an example is the harvest festival (Ta asobi) held in the Tokai district near Tokyo. Every new year "Miya daiko" (court taiko) is used not for making music but as a symbol of the rice fields.

The development of the taiko, from folk art to art is gradually taking place. We hope you too will take part in the revival and growth of this wonderful instrument. Japanese taiko music is gradually becoming familiar to foreigners mainly through the efforts of Daihachi Koguchi (Head of " Osuwa Daiko") who often goes abroad to popularize the taiko. He contributes a good deal to the diffusion of Japanese drum music as do various other people involved in taiko. Appreciation of the taiko is growing, both in Japan and abroad. Your understanding of the taiko and of the Japanese spirit will improve steadily (we hope) along with your music.