Basic Taiko Terms
Taiko (tye-koh)
An ancient Japanese form of percussion. Japanese drum.
Tabi (tah-bee)
Japanese split-toe shoes/socks
Ohayo gozaimasu (ohio go-zai-mah-soo)
Good morning (greeting when coming to dojo)
Onegai shimasu (oh-neh-guy shee-ma-soo)
Please (teach me)
Oyasumi nasai (oh-yah-soo-mee nah-sai)
Good night (greeting when leaving dojo)
Arigato gozaimashita (alee-gah-toe go-zai-mah-shee-tah)
Thank you (for teaching me)
Hajime (ha-jee-may)
Take beginning stance
Kamae (kah-mah-ay)
Take ready stance
Hajime kara (ha-jee-may kah-rah)
From the top
Mo ichido (moe-eechee-doe)
One more time
Kiai (kee-eye)
A shout used to channel Ki, or one’s spirit
Kakegoe (ka-kay-go-ay)
Vocal calls used to accent the music, signal shifts in rhythm, and encourage other performers.
Kuchi Shouga (koo-chee sh-oh-gah)
Words that serve as the vocabulary of taiko rhythm.
Each sound that an instrument produces is represented by a syllable telling the player how to strike the taiko