Taiko Building - From Wine Barrel to Japanese Drum
History (Why a wine barrel?)

In Japan, wadaiko are traditionally made from a single piece of hollowed-out wood. As a result they are very expensive (thousands of dollars).

• The Taiko: The Odaiko Story
  Quicktime movie clips show the process of turning wood from a giant tree in Cameroon, Africa into an odaiko.

A New Tradition

North American taiko originated in California, a state famous for its wine production. The first taiko groups couldn't afford taiko made in Japan, so they developed a relatively inexpensive method of turning wine barrels into Japanese drums (about $400 each). This made doing taiko a less financially onerous proposition, and opened the door to the growing popularity of taiko in North America seen today.

• A Taiko Tradition: Bang the Drum Loudly
  A brief history of taiko in North America
• Taiko and the Asian American Movement: the Making of a Modern Folk Art
  Taiko offers an opportunity to reclaim one's cultural heritage and to serve the community

A Local Tradition

Portland Taiko's Drum Czarina is June, who has been with the group since it began in the mid-1990s. She hosts PT's drum-building parties in her garage and backyard. I don't know what her neighbours receive for putting up with the whine of power tools every summer -- maybe free PT concert tickets?