Taiko is the Japanese word for drum.
Solo taiko playing is an ancient art form believed to be over 2000 years old. Over the centuries solo taiko have been used in religious, military, festival, Kabuki (theater,) and court roles. In 1951 Daihahi Oguchi developed group taiko, known as Kumi-daiko, and started the first taiko group, Osuwa Daiko.
American Kumi-daiko began in California, with Seiichi Tanaka's San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1967 and in Los Angeles with Kinnara Taiko in 1969. Both groups are still going strong, and have inspired thousands of other Americans to join taiko groups all across the US. The LA based group Taikoproject won the Tokyo International Taiko Contest in 2005, the first non-Japanese group to ever win that title. In 2013 Japanese Taiko Maker Asano founded Asano Taiko US and the Los Angeles Taiko Institute, thereby opening the first retail Taiko store in the United States by a major taiko manufacturer.
A much more comprehensive history of taiko can be found here:
https://www.taiko-center.co.jp/english/history_of_taiko.html
With Central Arkansas Taiko forming, there are now taiko groups in at least 40 states, with hundreds of groups and thousands of taiko players. Come and join us!
Still want to know more? Here's some videos to watch, courtesy of Asano Taiko US:
Omiyage, played by Unit One
Solo taiko playing is an ancient art form believed to be over 2000 years old. Over the centuries solo taiko have been used in religious, military, festival, Kabuki (theater,) and court roles. In 1951 Daihahi Oguchi developed group taiko, known as Kumi-daiko, and started the first taiko group, Osuwa Daiko.
American Kumi-daiko began in California, with Seiichi Tanaka's San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1967 and in Los Angeles with Kinnara Taiko in 1969. Both groups are still going strong, and have inspired thousands of other Americans to join taiko groups all across the US. The LA based group Taikoproject won the Tokyo International Taiko Contest in 2005, the first non-Japanese group to ever win that title. In 2013 Japanese Taiko Maker Asano founded Asano Taiko US and the Los Angeles Taiko Institute, thereby opening the first retail Taiko store in the United States by a major taiko manufacturer.
A much more comprehensive history of taiko can be found here:
https://www.taiko-center.co.jp/english/history_of_taiko.html
With Central Arkansas Taiko forming, there are now taiko groups in at least 40 states, with hundreds of groups and thousands of taiko players. Come and join us!
Still want to know more? Here's some videos to watch, courtesy of Asano Taiko US:
Omiyage, played by Unit One
Dokokaraj, Unit One
Jack Bazaar, Unit One
First United Methodist Church
723 Center Street, downtown Little Rock
Central Arkansas Taiko will offer new classes starting in September 2024! Adult and teen beginning class will start September 30th and meet every Monday night at 6:30 pm. Our adult performing group will meet Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:30.
