Today’s A Journey through Aesthetic Realms will be presented in Japanese, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mongolian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Energetic viewers, welcome to A Journey through Aesthetic Realms on Supreme Master Television. You have just enjoyed a taiko drum performance by the internationally renowned Ondekoza ensemble from Japan.

Taikos are stick percussion instruments important in Japanese folk and classical musical traditions. The simple and rhythmic drum presentations, combined with the disciplined training and teamwork, have been part of the rich culture of Japan for more than 2,000 years.

The modern style taiko performance was pioneered in 1951 by virtuoso drummer Daihachi Oguchi. He was the first to use a large Japanese drum set in tandem with jazz music. The genre was further enriched by the Yushima Tenjin Sukeroku Daiko group, established in 1959, which introduced tempo, strength, as well as unique choreography into the performance.

The success of the initial drum groups led to the great popularity of taiko in the country in the 1960s. Ondekoza was created during that period. It was founded 45 years ago on an island called Sado-ga-shima.

A group of young people gathered together because they wanted to do something new. Playing taiko drums became their final decision. They named their group Ondekoza.

After it was founded, the group started to tour all over Japan. They performed at different places continuously.

What are the unique aspects that distinguished Ondekoza from other taiko groups?

In Japan, there are about 5,000 taiko groups. All of these groups play similar types of taiko drums. Our specialty is performing with our entire body. In other words, the bodies of performers themselves are a tool for performance. That’s why they have to go through comprehensive training starting from their daily lives, so that they can present themselves on the stage to the audience. I think this is what sets us apart from other groups.

Besides their unique style of performance, Ondekoza drummers also wear special costumes on stage. This is called “half-length sleeves,” a traditional Japanese costume.

In olden times, people used to wear them as their work clothes. Like this pocket: it was used to store tools. See the design here? This design is used to distinguish the group that people belonged to. Later, people also wore this kind of clothes to attend festivals. Ondekoza also follows this tradition.

When Ondekoza gives performances around the world, one central theme is peace. We emphasize this theme because our founder, Den Tagayasu, having experienced wars, had wanted to promote the message of peace through drum playing throughout the world. We wanted to reflect this ideal, so we chose “Prayer” as our first program.

Let’s now enjoy the taiko performance entitled “Prayer” by the Ondekoza ensemble.

I’m You Kuboya.

I watched the performance by Ondekoza while I was in kindergarten and I was also very moved at that occasion. So right after I graduated from high school, I joined the group.

I’m Dai Nakamura.

While I was studying in the United States, I watched the Ondekoza drum performance for the first time, and I was deeply moved. When I came back to Japan I made a decision.

This is my 9th year.

According to Ondekoza tradition, its members receive rigorous training including studying Japanese folk arts, experiencing communal living, and undertaking a physical exercise regime of a professional athlete.

To us, the most basic training is running. Like this morning, we ran about 10 kilometers. We start running at 6 every morning.

In Japan, every day we would run 20 to 30 kilometers.

Every year, I would go climb Mount Fuji. I would start running up the mountain from the base, and I often go to the top.

Our performances usually last about two hours, so this training is necessary to build our stamina.

In 2004 in Formosa (Taiwan), we were on the road for about a month. Every day we ran 30 kilometers. When I finished the run, I felt so great!

Our second program is called “Playing Taiko on Hachijo Island.” According to legend, a samurai was homesick for his hometown, so he tried to play drums with wooden swords to console himself.

Through rigorous training, Ondekoza drummers become very disciplined in their daily activities, which is the foundation of successful performances.

They show good discipline in rehearsals and they carefully preserve their drums. Their performances are very powerful. I think they are very dedicated to their profession. For example, right after playing, they would always store their drum sticks in a secure place.

The venue that the group plays at also influences their performance. The atmosphere at the site is determined by the mood of the audience. The scene also creates a mood. We performed at Seiin Temple in late May. We just whole-heartedly felt the power of that temple, and that was why we could have such a perfect performance. We always feel the atmosphere of the site and perform accordingly.

Ondekoza’s trademark performance is the ōdaiko or “grand taiko.” They are the largest drums in a taiko ensemble. Performing with the ōdaiko requires strength, stamina, coordination, musical sense, and teamwork.

The players exert all their might and power to strike the drums. This is the signature program of Ondekoza.

Combining strength with art, taiko bands have sprouted all over the world since the 1960s. In North America alone, there are approximately 150 taiko groups. It is now truly an international art form.

I’ve been with the Ondekoza group for 15 years. Right now our members are running around China on tour.

They start from Shanghai, and run to Kunming, from there they run to Xi’an, and then to Beijing. They finally run from Beijing back to Shanghai. My hope at the moment is to finish the run around China.

I hope Ondekoza will continue for some decades ahead, even 100 years from now. If it continues like this, that will make me very happy. For myself, I hope that I will gain all sorts of experience while I’m with the Ondekoza group.

We thank the members of the Ondekoza taiko ensemble for sharing with us your brilliant performances and valuable experience. May you continue to bring joy to appreciative audiences worldwide through your amazing art form. Heaven bless beautiful Japan.

For more details on Ondekoza, please visit

Dedicated viewers, thank you for your presence on today’s episode of A Journey through Aesthetic Realms on Supreme Master Television. Up next is Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living, after Noteworthy News. May inner melodies uplift your spirit.