Click on any song title to hear a clip from the song.

Matsuri (Written by Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo)

In Japanese, Matsuri means festival.  Most American Taiko groups play their own versions of this song.  Our version begins with a popular children's song entitled, "Mura Matsuri", which is about a festival in a village.

Kagaribi Daiko (Courtesy of the Kyoto Taiko Center)

The word "kagaribi" means torch.  This song uses a bachi (drum stick) that looks like a torch and is twirled while playing.  U-Kai fishermen use a kagaribi to attract fish during night-fishing.  When the fish come to the surface, the fishermen (comorants) birds to catch the fish for them. 

Ran (Composition by Joichi Miyahara, courtesy of the Kyoto Taiko Center)

This song combines a Japanese drum with an Okinawan Eisa drum.  Traditionally, Eisa performers dance through the streets and alleys of the town with movements characteristic of Okinawan dance, shouting out chants in which the word "Eisa" is repeated.  Eisa is becoming well known all over Japan as a heroic and traditional dance form that conveys the spirit of Okinawa. 

Wa-yoh Daiko (Written by Alan)

In Japanese, "wa" refers to anything that is Japanese.  "yoh" refers to anything from the west.  This piece combines both Japanese and western beats.

Nadeshko Daiko (Written by Nadeshko)

Combines all of the basic taiko beats into a march.  The two drums sound like the cannons of two armies in battle.

Nanchu Soran (Created by Tomu Shimada, former Wakkani Minami Middle School Teacher)

This is a modern adaptation of the traditional Soran Bushi fisherman's song into a modern rock dance.  Nanchu Soran was developed by a teacher at Nanchu Jr. High School as a way to give his students a common purpose.  The students became so good at the dance that they won a National competition in Japan with it and were featured on National television.  Since that broadcast, the Nanchu Soran dance has gained international popularity and is taught in many schools in Japan a part of the physical education program.

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