There is a surprisingly wide range of traditional Japanese drums (referred to here simply as taiko), many of which are currently used in contemporary kumidaiko. Most Japanese drums fall into one of two broad categories, tacked-head drums (byo-uchi taiko) and rope-tightened drums (shime-daiko). Within these categories, there are dramatic variations in shape and size, leading to a great variety of sounds. There are also a few drums that fall outside these two categories, most notably the uchiwa-daiko, a frame-drum with no body.

Japanese drums are usually played with one or two sticks called batchi, or in the rare case of the ko-tsuzumi, struck with the hand. Many of the drums have multiple playing styles, both of traditional and more recent origins.

Judging from the popularity of kumidaiko, the available range of sounds and playing styles makes Japanese drums well suited for an ensemble setting. It should be noted, however, that kumidaiko is a very new use of Japanese drums. Traditionally, the different drums were part of totally separate musical styles. Each drum has its own role in festival or ceremony, or as part of a larger orchestra featuring stringed instruments and/or singing. Before the emergence of kumidaiko in the late 1950's, it would be very rare to find a nagado, okedo, and uchiwa played together, for example. More likely, the nagado would be off-stage in a Noh play, the okedo on a wheeled cart in a festival in Aomori, and the uchiwa in the hands of a Nichiren Buddhist priest.

Nagado-daiko

Round, barrel-shaped, keyaki body with tacked cowhide skins. More...

Hira-daiko

Round, short, one-piece keyaki body with tacked, cowhide skins. More...

Okedo

Light weight, slightly bowed body with rope-tightened heads. More...

Katsugi

Light weight horse-hide variant of the okedo-daiko. More...

Tsukeshime

Iron ring strung heads, rope or bolt tightened on a small keyaki body. More...

Uchiwa

Bodiless, single-skin drum stretched over a metal ring. More...