Use of taiko

[Koshu]

Are taiko utilized in the practice of any koryu, whether as an integral part of practice/demonstration or as some other vestige of feudal culture?

[David Craik]

They're used in the oldest koryu of all...sumo. :D:

[Koshu]

By golly :ticks: -- I hadn't thought of that (has samurai roots after all)!

Short article on drumming during sumo competitions (http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_joho_kyoku/shiru/kiso_chishiki/culture/index.html) for those interested.

[Mekugi]

Are taiko utilized in the practice of any koryu, whether as an integral part of practice/demonstration or as some other vestige of feudal culture?

Taiko has a pretty deep relationship to Shinto and by extension to budo culture. Many of the local "Matsuri" (festivals) still utlize them to scare off bad spirits and usher in the good. Taiko playing one of the focal points of Kuwana's Ishidori Matsuri (around where I live) which has been practice every night for the last two weeks. Huge taiko are rolled on carts onto the sidwalks and small streets to be played by the "float" participants (representing the different "Cho" or towns). I took my daughter to one the other night- very good fun.

As for miliary tactics, I have read that they were used to move platoons, or to sound out a march; not unlike what is done in the West. They were also used in other ceremonies such as Buddhism, to sound beginnings and ends of events, to mark the end and beginning of a day and and to mark hours.
:)

[Koshu]

Russ --- Thanks for the reply (sorry for the belated acknowledgment). I did notice in the "Human Weapon" judo episode that a taiko resides in the Takenouchi-ryu dojo, but no mention was made of its use or other relevance.