Goals, Focus

TaikoInfo.org is intended to provide a detailed and accurate source of information on the Japanese instruments and related goods of ensemble taiko, or kumidaiko. With the growing popularity of kumidaiko in much of the English-speaking world, players and audiences have expressed an interest in learning more about the instruments and their uses. Practitioners of the art-form, individuals and groups considering acquiring their own instruments, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the instruments of kumidaiko will hopefully find TaikoInfo.org a valuable resource. Although a few newer design drums are also featured, TaikoInfo.org focuses on the traditionally constructed drums of Japan recently in use by many contemporary kumidaiko groups. As kumidaiko has grown outside of Japan, different, new methods of drum making have been developed; in particular the barrel-construction body of the nagado-daiko often in use in North America. While these designs are valid and well-deserving of deeper study, TaikoInfo.org, with its connection to the 140-year-old drum maker, Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten, attempts to provide information about the traditional Japanese designs for which detailed information (and especially English-language information) has been particularly difficult to find.

Sources of Information, Biases

The information found at TaikoInfo.org is the result of the experience of its writers, their research in the United States and Japan, and the generous support of the Japanese drum maker, Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten. While Miyamoto is a well-respected taiko maker, due to the fact that a majority of the information at TaikoInfo.org comes from this single source, TaikoInfo.org should NOT be considered an exhaustive or objective account. TaikoInfo.org is NOT the result of research into a variety of drum makers and cannot be considered an all-inclusive source of information. TaikoInfo.org seeks only to explain clearly what the writers have learned through their taiko experience and through their interaction with Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten. The writers of TaikoInfo.org have a deep respect for the practices and approach to instrument making shown at Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten. Seeking to support current traditional and contemporary taiko music and to establish vibrant and sustainable new outlets for taiko music, they have shown a deep commitment to the Japanese and North American taiko communities. While Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten has a refined and extensive catalog of drums and other instruments, the company encourages the adoption and enjoyment of taiko music played on any drums, Miyamoto-made or otherwise. They have shown support and encouragement for drum-makers like Mark Miyoshi, a Shasta, California based drum maker who individually crafts taiko from start to finish, a practice no longer common in Japan. Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten has repeatedly shown a respectful and insightful approach to drum making and support of the taiko world, and has earned the deep respect of the creators and maintainers of TaikoInfo.org.

Creators, Maintainers

TaikoInfo.org is written, designed, and managed by Kris Bergstrom and Shoji Kameda of the Los Angeles based taiko group, On Ensemble.

Kris spent a number of years in northern and central Japan where he studied wadaiko, nagauta shamisen, and nihon-buyou. His taiko career began with Stanford Taiko, in 1995. He is fluent in Japanese and is responsible for much of the translation required at TaikoInfo.org.

Shoji began playing taiko at age 8 and grew up learning music from Shasta Taiko, Stanford Taiko, Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, and San Jose Taiko. He lived in Tokyo, Japan where he studied edo-bayashi, wadaiko, and the hougaku-bayashi ko-tsuzumi.

Future

TaikoInfo.org is constantly being revised and extended. Intended additions include: information concerning the flutes and auxiliary percussion often used in kumidaiko, descriptions of the clothing and costuming of taiko, information on tsukeshime tightening, and additional interviews with practitioners of the art form.

Thank You

TaikoInfo.org was made possible with the generous assistance of a number of groups and individuals. Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten The employees of Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten provided generous research assistance, first-hand interviews and demonstrations with drum-makers and performers, and advice at all stages of the development of TaikoInfo.org. TaikoInfo.org would like to particularly thank:

Miyamoto Yoshi, Kobayashi, Okabe, Taro

Interview Participants

All artists featured in the interviews section of TaikoInfo.org generously donated their time to answer our questions and share their expertise. We would like to thank:

Jeanne Mercer, Russel Baba and Kenny Endo

Technical Assistance

The computer from which TaikoInfo.org is served and assistance in its setup were donated by a number of extremely generous groups and individuals. TaikoInfo.org would like to thank:

Tokyo Linux User's Group (TLUG), Des Lee, Glenn Colaco, Ron Golan, Mike Fair, and the Linux at LAX group (LILAX) and GNU/Linux and Apache Open-Source developers