It's here!

Those of you who visit this blog for the articles rather than just the pictures may recall that when we went to the Asano Taiko workshop a couple of weeks ago I bought a drum. Well, today it arrived!!

Specifically, what I bought is a katsugi oke-daiko, or 'slung okedo' for those in the North American taiko world. It's a drum that one plays slung over the shoulder on a strap. And it's an awesomely fun drum to play because of all the neat stuff that's possible to do with it when you are a katsugi oke-daiko god like this guy.

Well, I got interested in katsugi oke-daiko back in Victoria when my friend Deb of Uminari Taiko decided to learn it and talked me into tagging along on her adventure. And now that I am hooked, I have been doing katsugi oke-daiko classes here in Kyoto. So it was only a matter of time before I got me an okedo.

And what better place to get a drum than Asano Taiko. And while I still get dizzy whenever I reach for my wallet, I am now a happy and proud owner of an Asano oke-daiko.

Here it is, with strap and bachi
It even has its own bag to sleep in...
...and a certificate of authenticity. "Congratulations on purchasing an Asano Taiko product..." or words to that effect, no doubt

Unlike many taiko, oke-daiko are tunable - a feat accomplished by means of the rope (see pictures) that holds the whole contraption together. To preserve the skins of the drum, you really should tighten the rope every time you play, and then release the tension until next time. Katsugi oke-daiko are also unique because of their extreme (relatively speaking) light weight. Whereas most taiko are made heavy for durability, katsugi oke-daiko are build as light as possible. Hey - you try wearing the thing for 30 minutes straight and you will be crying for every last possible gram to be shaved off.

My oke-daiko's drumhead is made of horse hide rather than cow so as to keep the weight down. Which means I cannot put it on an upright stand and beat the crap out of it with heavy bachi. But that's totally fine with me. Also, my oke-daiko is a 1-shaku 6-sun drum, which simply refers to the playable diameter of the drumhead. 48 cm. Regular size for an oke.

This says it's a 1-shaku 6-sun drum. Oh, and did I mention it's an Asano? ;-)

And as an aside on traditional Japanese measurements... if you are familiar with the haunting sounds of the shakuhachi flute, you may be interested to know that that instrument's name originally simply referred to it's size: 1 shaku and 8 (8=hachi) sun, or about 54 cm. But I digress...

It's here!

Those of you who visit this blog for the articles rather than just the pictures may recall that when we went to the Asano Taiko workshop a couple of weeks ago I bought a drum. Well, today it arrived!!

Specifically, what I bought is a katsugi oke-daiko, or 'slung okedo' for those in the North American taiko world. It's a drum that one plays slung over the shoulder on a strap. And it's an awesomely fun drum to play because of all the neat stuff that's possible to do with it when you are a katsugi oke-daiko god like this guy.

Well, I got interested in katsugi oke-daiko back in Victoria when my friend Deb of Uminari Taiko decided to learn it and talked me into tagging along on her adventure. And now that I am hooked, I have been doing katsugi oke-daiko classes here in Kyoto. So it was only a matter of time before I got me an okedo.

And what better place to get a drum than Asano Taiko. And while I still get dizzy whenever I reach for my wallet, I am now a happy and proud owner of an Asano oke-daiko.

Here it is, with strap and bachi
It even has its own bag to sleep in...
...and a certificate of authenticity. "Congratulations on purchasing an Asano Taiko product..." or words to that effect, no doubt

Unlike many taiko, oke-daiko are tunable - a feat accomplished by means of the rope (see pictures) that holds the whole contraption together. To preserve the skins of the drum, you really should tighten the rope every time you play, and then release the tension until next time. Katsugi oke-daiko are also unique because of their extreme (relatively speaking) light weight. Whereas most taiko are made heavy for durability, katsugi oke-daiko are build as light as possible. Hey - you try wearing the thing for 30 minutes straight and you will be crying for every last possible gram to be shaved off.

My oke-daiko's drumhead is made of horse hide rather than cow so as to keep the weight down. Which means I cannot put it on an upright stand and beat the crap out of it with heavy bachi. But that's totally fine with me. Also, my oke-daiko is a 1-shaku 6-sun drum, which simply refers to the playable diameter of the drumhead. 48 cm. Regular size for an oke.

This says it's a 1-shaku 6-sun drum. Oh, and did I mention it's an Asano? ;-)

And as an aside on traditional Japanese measurements... if you are familiar with the haunting sounds of the shakuhachi flute, you may be interested to know that that instrument's name originally simply referred to it's size: 1 shaku and 8 (8=hachi) sun, or about 54 cm. But I digress...