Towards the end of my stay in Osaka, I was fortunate to be able to see the process involved in creating a Taiko drum. It was lucky really because I was just looking at the store when a group of Canadian Taiko players came along with a guy from Ikari who recognised me and asked me if I'd like to join them - to which I enthusiastically agreed.
Taiko making is a traditional Buraku industry, but being a Buraku industry it has always been despised because of its association with leather working (and so the products of dead animals - spiritually polluting according to Buddhism). It is a real art form though, as years and years of training goes into it. The manager of the above place has been there for nearly 40 years, and he can tell when they are stretching the skin over the barrel when it is at the right tone just by listening to it being hit (it must be the same tone as the skin on the bottom of the drum - prepared the day before). The process of stretching the skin takes about 30-35 minutes and it is almost like a meditative sort of ritual - four people walk around the top in a circle and hit the drum with mallets in a rythem as the skin is stretched with jacks from below. It is hypnotising to watch. A great experience to see if you ever get the chance to do so. |
