Wa-Daiko is a Japanese traditional percussion instrument.

Meaning drum of harmony in Japanese,

it has a deep relation with Japanese culture and people.

(Wa=Japan,harmomy Daiko=drum)

According to some archeology research,

it is one of the oldest Japanese traditional instrument

having a history over 2000 years.

In those days, Wadaiko was used in ritual

and religious ceremonies.

Some ritual clay dolls were made holding Wadaiko

which can proof that Wadaiko was used

in the ritual ceremonies in the old days.

As time passes, Japanese traditional drum still took an important role of their culture.

Farmers, the majority of the population at that age prayed to their god

and played the drum to avoid disasters.

In those days, traditional summer festival “Obon” was an essential cultural events

for Japanese Buddhism.

In the festival, drummers, singers, and traditional flute players performed on the stage.

With that music, people danced around the stage.

Each regions have different music and dances, passed on their descendants.

After World War 2,

the Obon festival has lost its spiritual sense and turned into one kind of entertainmaint form.

At the same time, Wadaiko changed its form from religious form to one kind of performance.

Cousequently, many Wadaiko teams formed up

and started to compete their quality of performances.

In Japan, several million drummers and 10,000 teams play Wadaiko,

making themselves on contests and stages.

Wadaiko is still regarded as one of the Japanese identites.

Recently, Wadaiko is part of schoolings in order to teach teamwork and Japanese spirit to the students.

Wadaiko, Japanese traditional instrument has deep relations to their people and culture.