Introduction
Taiko drumming in Japanese culture is inextricably tied to several historical ritualistic practices. These range from establishing a working rhythm while performing labor to martial arts and military cadence. Often noted as one of Japan 's core reflections of traditional Japanese culture, Taiko has evolved from its traditional roots into a popular contemporary sport. This paper would explore the origins of Taiko drumming, its applications in various ritualistic practices, and how Taiko rhythms and movement have transmitted this information across generations.
Attention will be paid to a wide range of Taiko songs, ranging from popular contemporaries to sea shanties over a century old. Furthermore, various iterations of Taiko drums ranging from the Byou-daiko to the Odaiko will be examined in concert with their historical functions and contexts. Lastly, body movement will be studied in detail, particularly in connection with warfare and martial arts. Various Taiko stances bear striking similarities to postures commonly adopted in martial arts, and Taiko drumming is often employed during martial arts demonstrations to display rhythm and project energy. Therefore, the relationship between the martial and performance aspects of Taiko drumming bears closer examination. Overview Summary Taiko is a contemporary Japanese cultural musical activity that entails coordinated and choreographed movement by a troupe of drummers that play a large variety of percussion instruments. Earliest records date to the sixth or seventh century , and Taiko is thought to have been introduced to Japan via Chinese or Korean cultural influences. Remarkably, Taiko remains one of the hallmarks of Japanese culture that is extensively practiced even today. Movements Taiko movements, or kata, are best characterized as a unique blend between dance and martial arts. Movements are tightly choreographed, marked by deep, well-defined stances and seamless transitions from one position to the next, "so that the visual aspect of music is emphasized as much as the aural" (Powell) Instruments Taiko instruments span several sizes and produce a variety of sounds. The largest of these is the O(large)daiko, which is placed perpendicular to the floor and played on both sides by two players. The chu (middle) daiko, is the main component of any Taiko group, and is medium sized. Shime-daiko are the smallest in the family, with its high pitched sound being commonly used for timekeeping. Applications of Taiko Taiko and labor Cultures worldwide are no stranger to work songs. Indeed, current literature has observed that work songs are remarkably prevalent in agrarian societies, where such songs are used to coordinate timing of physical movements and maintain morale. This was especially important in menial tasks that were often physically demanding and repetitive, such as while harvesting crops and rowing boats. It is therefore unsurprising that Taiko, as a primary rhythmic activity, was employed in this regard as well. …show more content…
A common sea shanty that remains performed by amateur university groups and professional Taiko masters alike is called Soran-Bushi. Soran-Bushi was historically sung by the fishermen of Hokkaido.(Hughes) In the case of Soran-Bushi, Taiko drums established the rhythm for lifting catch out of the sea via otamo, giant nets that could be up to 6 meters deep. Various words echoed in the song corresponded to a number of synchronized actions, as the fishermen used the otamo to lift fish from large sea going boats to smaller boats used to transport the catch to shore. The word 'soran ' itself does not have any intrinsic meaning, but is a collective call meant to engage all the fishermen 's effort at once, much like 'heave-ho ' in western cultures. While one man sets the tempo by singing the "soran" introduction, the otamo are swished around to scoop up the fish …show more content…
Several of the stances bear similar names and form, and the vocabulary used in describing actions in these activities are virtually identical. For instance, “kata” designates the form and movement patterns associated with a certain Taiko song, but also refers to a pre-defined set of movements practiced by martial artists. Similarly, the concept of a kiai in Taiko refers to the troupe vocalizing a shout in unison, often to amplify the group’s energy and keep tempo. Likewise, in martial arts, a kiai is used to focus a practitioner’s mind on the execution of a technique, and to magnify the force applied by the