The Stockholm Taiko Club began in Sweden 1991. This
was a result of a series of performances and workshops given by pioneers Iwakichi Yamashita and Noriko Hashimoto from
Kyoto. After many years of playing and study, Andrew Hickman founded Sweden Taiko 2014.
At Sweden Taiko we have been inspired by the rich tradition of japanese taiko music which flows from the hearts of people who play together at local festivals in Japan. Communities of fishing people, gatherings of farmers, foresters, weavers,
or iron workers. Groups of working people whose ancient rythms and songs celebrate and continue to reflect the natural spirit of
taiko in modern day Japan. Taiko drums are indeed both simple and profound.
Sweden Taiko has developed a varied concert program (check out our performance page) and we also arrange workshops for beginners and intermediate students. Sweden Taiko is proud to collaborate with our japanese international taiko masters whom we visit in Japan and who visit us here in Sweden.
Japanese Taiko is an ancient but also a modern tradition.
Andrew Hickman
Thanks to:
Ryo Shiobara Nagano taiko master (Taiko, kagura) https://youtu.be/QXwhZS5Xh7s
Kano Yasukazu (shinobué flutemaster and former Kodo master drummer ) https://yasukazu.com/en:
Aren Tokyo (shinobué flute and taiko)
Kumiko Suzuki Tokyo and London (taiko) https://youtu.be/pDjEKnWMTk8
Below: Detail of a painted wooden panel showing ancient taiko.
Found at the Ogura shrine on Tennozan Mountain, Oyamazaki, Kyoto. This picture is very old and it depicts the local springtime festival.. If you click on the picture it will link you to the spring festival music at Minakuchi- Cho in Shiga prefecture.