Thank you! I have used tacks from the taiko manufacturers Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten (look for kaDON for US based affiliate) and from Asano Taiko. The tacks are called “byo” in Japanese if it helps with searching. It’s kind of a folk knowledge among taiko makers in the US that the most expensive part of the drum are actually the tacks. I’ve found this to be generally true in terms of raw cost. However, I think when you take into account treatment and time, the barrel itself may be more expensive. There are “furniture tacks” that people have historically used in the US, too, especially when it was not as easy to get the byo. These can be bought from hardware suppliers. They are often not black but can be painted black. These are sometimes cheaper options, but quality can vary. I’ve used these before, too, and they’ve work well but are often noticeable as a bit off. Best of luck with your project! There is a Facebook group called “Taiko Builders” that are pretty responsive to questions, too.

It’s a division where we all play the same piece to be evaluated, though there’s room for interpretation. There’s another division for original compositions, too.

Thanks for sharing that information! Yeah, there is a lot of subtlety to the music not captured here, particularly compared to the actual festival music. This video was made a while back for my team, but I really hope anyone wanting to learn will consider the original sources and also what meanings the song has when played outside that context, and how those meanings evolve. I'll keep an eye out for that handbook, and hope others will use more than this resource to learn!

Oh so crazy to have crossed paths! Looking forward to the Canadian Geese rendition. I really enjoyed the Koshio Gumi performances. I hope you keep enjoying taiko! Thanks for saying hi!

cow - sapi

Ooh, that would sound good. Thank you!

@@gregory_wadai was drunk. just keep working you and you guys

Thanks! I updated it. Looking forward to seeing you then!

This is a Kohala KP-C Concert Ukulele. It's a relatively inexpensive model using a geared tuner, which works great. It's probably below a professional tier, but works for me! If you're going to perform live, though, maybe consider one with a pickup - borrowed one for a set last weekend and that was fun!

I'm glad you found it useful - even if just to see that you don't need to be perfect to make something of value. Good luck with your first drum! I hope you find it rewarding and that the sound of the drum will make many people happy!

はいわかります！ありがとう〜

Thanks for that feedback for the greetings! Love and peace to our friends worldwide! I’m about to teach this again, so that is helpful to me. Thanks so much!

Ei Ja Nai Ka (ええじゃないか) means "isn't it good?" I guess the "Ei" might be "ee" but it's kind of a regionalization of "Ii," I think. So "good." As a musical phrase, "eijanaika" references lyrics from Awa Odori, which in the full context is kind of like "So why not dance?" Eijanaika references a historical folk dance movement around the transition from the Edo to Meiji periods, in which working-class (farming class) populations had large and wild celebrations, despite resistance from the upper class. Contextually, in this song, I think it carries both a bit of joyful celebration and resistance/persistence connotations.

@@gregory_wada Gregory, thank you so much for details! So interesting. That will add even more charm to the song/dance whenever I see it performed, thanks to your explanation! You are very knowlegable, it's so cool. (How did you learn all that additional knowledge? Just through your taiko groups and senseis? Or did you study things by yourself? Like taiko history, songs roots, etc) PS: I also watched your video on composing in Garageband. Your piece is very nice! Some parts reminded me the 'vibe' of some Kodo songs, another part - something from African rhythms. It was interesting to experience that feeling. The world music is intertwined, I think, which is amazing :) /Natalie

​@@JulyTotoro I've been going to San Jose Obon for about ten years now, which really let the song sink in over time. San Jose Taiko and the Betsuin bring out collegiate taiko teams every year, which I think is so great for bringing young players into these meaningful community spaces. I have had the privilege of learning from PJ and San Jose Taiko over the years, too. I took a deeper dive into this song and Bon music through personal study as part of protest work we did with Tsuru for Solidarity in 2020 - kind of following a vein of moving in community as a way to build solidarity and celebrate Asian American joy and belonging. My academic background is in Anthropology, and I'm interested in Ethnomusicology, as well. So kind of just the intersection of art, study, and life. Thank you for your interest! This video was initially for other participants at a protest we did, but I'm glad it has reached other audiences. I do want to uplift PJ as the author (and Yoko Fujimoto as the lyricist), though! I am indebted to them!

@@gregory_wada Gregory, I see! It makes sense. It's amazing how everything has connected in your life! It's great. I love how enriched the taiko community environment is in the U.S. I hear you - I also have and had great teachers, very grateful to them for skills and knowledge that I've learnt thanks to them. I share your feeling of appreciation and gratitude. Thank you again for making this video and for all the details! It's interesting and I already learned something new :) I found you through the Taiyo's Odaiko fundraiser. I'm glad I went to have a look. Maybe I need to say thank-you to Taiyo too :) Thank you! Maybe we will meet one day. It will be a pleasure to talk to you. Ethnomusicology sounds interesting! I will google more on it. I feel it might have something that I wanted to learn more about but just didn't know how that thing is called :) Thank you! :) / Natalie

@@JulyTotoro Haha, Taiyo and I played in college together, and we were roommates for a while. Yeah, likewise, it was nice to meet you. Thank you for saying hello from Australia. Wishing you the best on your journey, and hopefully we’ll cross paths again.

It's a little bit east of Ikeda's in Davis. :)

Thanks, Kageyama sensei. We're doing a version of this for our San Jose Obon video submission. We're using the stuff you taught us this year!

Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful. I hope you can show off those moves again soon. :)

@@gregory_wada You wouldn't happen to be related to the Wada (Jack?) who taught aikido in San Jose, would you?

@@queserasera3 not that I am aware of~ We’re the Wada from Orange County Buddhist Church. Thanks for asking. I really love the San Jose community, but I’m not originally from NorCal. Love it, though!

@@gregory_wada Hmm. Interesting. Again, thanks for breaking it down! My granddaughters love this dance more than any other.

Oh, thank you very much! I hope it was helpful. I think since our event, I've had better insights on the modifications for mobility, too. So always room to improve. I hope you continue to enjoy Obon dancing, and thank you for your comment!