Daihachi Oguchi 大八小口 R.I.P.

I learned the sad news this evening as I opened my Internet browser and saw the headline on Yahoo: "Master Japanese drummer, Oguchi dies".

All of us who play and perform taiko today owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Oguchi, the grandfather of modern taiko. Oguchi is credited as having established and developed the style of taiko performing that most of us practice today. Without his work, taiko would likely still be secondary percussion instruments, limited to use in shrines, temples and local festivals.

Daihachi Oguchi, a jazz drummer, laid the foundations of modern taiko performance styles back in the early 1950s. He also helped to establish several top taiko groups, including the San Fransisco Taiko Dojo, the very first taiko group in the US.

For my wife and I, taiko has given us an incredible amount of happiness, joy, energy and more. Without Mr. Oguchi, we likely never would have known the wonders of taiko. We are truly grateful. We wish to express our condolences to his family and those who knew Mr. Oguchi. May he rest in peace.