top of page
Exploring Taiko Drumming
Final Project for AMCULT 311, Winter 2014
This website was created to explore Taiko performance at universities in the United States and how Taiko celebrates Japanese American culture and identity. The content focuses specifically on a few of the oldest collegiate Taiko groups, and the creation of the Intercollegiate Taiko Council. Refer to the "Behind the Project" tab for more information about my personal interest and reasoning behind the project.
Taiko
Originating in Japan, taiko, refers to the actual drum as well as the performance. Taiko was initially for military and religious purposes, but has become a performing art.
Kata or the posture or form of a Taiko performer is seen as one of the key factors when judging the quality of Taiko performance. The posture references that of martial arts in that it is centered around the performer's core.
Kumi-daiko refers to an ensemble performance, which is the format of the majority of collegiate Taiko teams. The first collegiate Taiko group, Kyodo Taiko, was founded in 1990 at University of California Los Angeles and continues to perform and celebrate Japanese culture over 20 years later.
bottom of page