Japanese drums were beaten to fool any invading armies into believing a formidable opposition was on the march. The range of their sound was said to mark the boundaries of a village. Taiko drumming has long been an integral part of Japanese festivals and celebrations.

Osuwa Daiko
The Osuwa Daiko ensemble was founded in Suwa (sister city of St. Louis), Japan in 1951 by Daihachi Oguchi, the man considered to be the father of modern taiko. Oguchi, an accomplished jazz drummer, helped turn the traditional form of taiko into a dramatic performance spectacle, elevating the traditional folk sounds of taiko into modern music played in concert halls, not just festivals and shrines. The performances of Osuwa Daiko around the world, as well as their performance during the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, ignited a taiko boom that continues today. IN 1986, Oguchi came to St. Louis and founded St. Louis Osuwa Taiko. Now led by his daughter, Kasumi, Osuwa Daiko continues to be one of the most preeminent taiko ensembles in the world.

Saturday, 7 p.m.
Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m.
Monday, 2 p.m.
Cohen Amphitheater

St. Louis Osuwa Taiko
St. Louis Osuwa Taiko is a talented community ensemble that plays traditional and modern songs. The group also offers adult and youth classes at its headquarters in Overland, Missouri.

Included in Opening Ceremony. Saturday, 11 a.m.
Japanese Garden/Yagura Stage

Saturday, 4 p.m.
Sunday, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, noon
Shoenberg Theater