Wajima Kiriko
Taiko Wajima Kiriko
Taiko 
Japanese
Wajima Kiriko Taiko is a traditional drumming group based in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. Throughout the Noto Peninsular there are many taiko groups all of which, while sharing common features, are in their own way unique. The taiko rhythms of the Wajima Kiriko Taiko are unique to Wajima.
A kiriko is a large traditional Japanese lantern used at festivals throughout the Noto peninsular. They vary in size from children's kiriko to extremely large and heavy lanterns. An average sized kiriko lantern requires 20 people or more to carry it. Each of the districts in Wajima has their own kiriko. Every year each district's kiriko is reconstructed for the festival. To the rear of the lantern a drum is suspended by ropes. The lantern is carried around the neighbourhood to the sound of the taiko drum and accompanying flute.
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Every so often the kiriko stops outside a house and the taiko is played for the family within. After visiting the houses of the neighbourhood the kiriko is carried towards the city shrine. Lanterns from all around the city meet as they approach the shrine. Representatives from each distict enter the shrine to pray and receive blessings. The kirikos are then carried down to an open area where they are exhibited for a short time while fire torches are lit, before the kirikos are then carried back to their neighbourhoods. From the beginning of the procession until the early hours of the morning the sounds of taiko echo around the city streets. The rhythms of the taiko have been handed down from generation to generation developing and expanding along the way. The taiko players learn various different rhythms and unlike performance taiko, with kiriko taiko the performer combines the various rhythms he knows as his mood takes him, rather than playing a rehearsed set. Kiriko taiko is usually played by two people on a single drum. One person plays ko-bai or basic repetitive rhythm while the other person plays O-bai or the main kiriko rhythms. |
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