The most typical style of drum exemplifying "taiko" as an instrument is the nagado (long-bodied) style of taiko. Each nagado-taiko is carved from a single, solid piece of wood. The types of wood we use for the body can be divided into two broad categories, keyaki and meari. Keyaki (zelkova serrata) is a premium hardwood considered to be the best material for taiko body construction. Meari is a broad term referring to a number of types of wood that can include camphor, horse chestnut, sen and bubinga.

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The tsukeshime-taiko has a strong, bright and high pitched sound. We make both rope and bolt tension styles. There are 5 sizes from namitsuke (the smallest) to 5-chogake (the largest and heaviest). The finish on the body emphasizes the wood grain and can range from plain to a deep mahogany. We also take special orders for lacquered bodies.

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Crafted from quartersawn Japanese cedar, the body of this drum is stave-constructed in the style of a Japanese barrel. The pitch of this instrument can be changed by adjusting the rope tension. The body of this drum is much longer and generally of a larger diameter than an Eitetsu-style Okedo. The bachi for this drum are typically long and crafted from split bamboo.

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This style of drum was designed by Eitetsu Hayashi, who adapted this instrument from the larger traditional okedo for stage use. The body is typically 54cm long regardless of head diameter, but we also take special orders for custom lengths and sizes. The finish on the body ranges from back to mahogany and the rope comes in a variety of colors - your choice of purple, black, red, orange, white or natural.

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