How do you play taiko if you live in America and don't have access to Japanese taiko drums? This short documentary explores the ingenuity and determination of American taiko groups during the late '60s and early '70s that led to the creation of homemade taiko drums and sparked a cultural revolution.

This film was produced by JANM's Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center for the Japanese American National Museum's 2005 exhibition, "BIG DRUM: Taiko in the United States," and includes taiko drum maker Mark Miyoshi, San Francisco Taiko Dojo, Kinnara Taiko, San Jose Taiko, Zenshin Daiko, Denver Taiko, Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, and Kokoro Taiko.

Watch the main documentary, "Big Drum: Taiko in the United States":    • BIG DRUM: Taiko in the United States  

All of the films produced for the exhibition are available on DVD at the JANM Store. The DVD also features extras, including historical footage and excerpts from the documentary "Taiko: The Music of the Japanese Drums" (1977). Purchase it here: https://janmstore.com/products/big-dr...

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Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
http://janm.org