Even under the best of circumstances, playing the Japanese drum (taiko) demands dexterity, rhythm, and hearing ability. But what if the taiko musician is hearing impaired and can't hear the music? This raises the bar much higher. Surprisingly however, it is not beyond the realm of the possible.

The Koshu Roa Taiko Team is an inspiring example of the near-miraculous achievement of a group of individuals that has reached a musical ability on par with Beethoven, with his well-known hearing disability. The team is made up entirely of the hearing impaired and just completed a successful series of taiko performances at the recent Asian Festival of Inclusive Arts in Cambodia, a forum for disabled musicians and artists.  http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/eng/current/20080317DeafTaiko.html David Tharp
The Nippon Foundation

Even under the best of circumstances, playing the Japanese drum (taiko) demands dexterity, rhythm, and hearing ability. But what if the taiko musician is hearing impaired and can't hear the music? This raises the bar much higher. Surprisingly however, it is not beyond the realm of the possible.

The Koshu Roa Taiko Team is an inspiring example of the near-miraculous achievement of a group of individuals that has reached a musical ability on par with Beethoven, with his well-known hearing disability. The team is made up entirely of the hearing impaired and just completed a successful series of taiko performances at the recent Asian Festival of Inclusive Arts in Cambodia, a forum for disabled musicians and artists.

Founded in 1981, Koshu Roa Taiko is a taiko drumming team in which all the lead performers are hearing impaired. They have been well received all around the world, including their most recent trip abroad to Cambodia, where audiences were deeply impressed with these skillful entertainers' awe-inspiring ability to combine breathtaking sound with highly refined movements.

Members have differing degrees of hearing impairment, so it is not easy for them to play the taiko in sync with each other. However, over time and with intensive training, they have refined their taiko skills to the point where their repertoire is equal to some non-disabled teams. They are definitely one of the best disabled taiko teams in the world.

They also give inspirational lectures, entitled "Can Do," to a wide range of people. They talk about their personal experiences in overcoming their impairment through effort, perseverance, and teamwork--traits that have led to personal success and achievement as a team. At present there are more than 50 hearing-impaired teams in Japan. They have all overcome their disability, experiencing the joy of music through the taiko.

The taiko, has been found at archeological sites that date back at least 2000 years. In 1979 taiko players throughout Japan established the Nippon Taiko Federation with a membership of 110 groups. Since then, the group has promoted taiko traditions with concerts and the training of new groups at the local level.

Taiko students range from the pre-kindergarten level to senior citizens. Recently, there has been an increasing number of taiko groups formed by women, as well as a growth of groups among mentally and physically challenged people. Taiko music is becoming highly appreciated internationally, and is seen as a way to introduce traditional Japanese culture abroad. As some say, taiko music conveys the heart and spirit of Japan.

In 1997, the Nippon Taiko Foundation was officially established, replacing the original Nippon Taiko Federation. The Foundation is making efforts to promote Japanese taiko culture both in Japan and internationally. The Koshu Roa Taiko Team contributes to this cultural effort. The establishment of the Nippon Taiko Foundation was made possible with the generous support of the Nippon Foundation.