Terms used in Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko

Note that these definitions are modified to help explain our group better

Name Description/Definition

bachi drum sticks; For RMD, we only use one bachi held in the right hand to hit the drum, compared to traditional taiko groups that usually use 2 bachi for both hands.

eisa/eisaa the Okinawan form of Obon drum dancing

hachimaki headband worn by our female performers

kata form or style

koku kingdom

koto Japanese string instrument approximately 6 feet in length and 1 foot in width. It is featured in Japanese and Okinawan music.

matsuri festival

obi sash tied around the waist of our uniforms

Obon "Festival of the Dead"; a Buddhist festival usually held in July or August to welcome the return of the spirits of the ancestors; many people celebrate by hanging paper lanterns as well as folk dancing and music

odaiko/oodaiko big drum; The odaiko used in RMD are painted red and are carried by the performer using a long piece of purple cloth suspended over the left shoulder.

Okinawa prefecture A group of approximately 50 islands located in the southwest extremity of Japan, between Kyushu and Taiwan. Okinawa is the name of the largest island.

paranku A small, flat, one-sided hand-held drum.

Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (RMD) The name of our group(see description on main page). "Ryukyukoku" is the old name for the Okinawa prefecture. "Matsuri" means festival. "Daiko" refers to drum. To put it simply, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko means Ryukyu Kingdom Festival Drums.

shamisen Japanese instrument with 3 strings and somewhat resembling a banjo. The Okinawan shamisen uses snakeskin to cover the body of the instrument.

shime-daiko A special type of drum in which the two drum heads, made by stretching leather over a metal ring, are tensioned together using rope or bolts. These drums are known for having a high-pitched sound. While traditional taiko groups play this instrument on a stand with two bachi, eisa drummers hold this instrument with the left hand and strike it with a bachi in the right hand.

tabi split-toed socks worn with a Japanese costume; we wear jika-tabi, tabi with rubber soles

taiko/daiko drum; can also refer to the art of Japanese drumming

Last Updated: 4/9/2002

Name	Description/Definition
bachi	drum sticks; For RMD, we only use one bachi held in the right hand to hit the drum, compared to traditional taiko groups that usually use 2 bachi for both hands.
eisa/eisaa	the Okinawan form of Obon drum dancing
hachimaki	headband worn by our female performers
kata	form or style
koku	kingdom
koto	Japanese string instrument approximately 6 feet in length and 1 foot in width. It is featured in Japanese and Okinawan music.
matsuri	festival
obi	sash tied around the waist of our uniforms
*Obon*	"Festival of the Dead"; a Buddhist festival usually held in July or August to welcome the return of the spirits of the ancestors; many people celebrate by hanging paper lanterns as well as folk dancing and music
odaiko/oodaiko	big drum; The odaiko used in RMD are painted red and are carried by the performer using a long piece of purple cloth suspended over the left shoulder.
Okinawa prefecture	A group of approximately 50 islands located in the southwest extremity of Japan, between Kyushu and Taiwan. Okinawa is the name of the largest island.
paranku	A small, flat, one-sided hand-held drum.
Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (RMD)	The name of our group(see description on main page). "Ryukyukoku" is the old name for the Okinawa prefecture. "Matsuri" means festival. "Daiko" refers to drum. To put it simply, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko means Ryukyu Kingdom Festival Drums.
shamisen	Japanese instrument with 3 strings and somewhat resembling a banjo. The Okinawan shamisen uses snakeskin to cover the body of the instrument.
shime-daiko	A special type of drum in which the two drum heads, made by stretching leather over a metal ring, are tensioned together using rope or bolts. These drums are known for having a high-pitched sound. While traditional taiko groups play this instrument on a stand with two bachi, eisa drummers hold this instrument with the left hand and strike it with a bachi in the right hand.
tabi	split-toed socks worn with a Japanese costume; we wear jika-tabi, tabi with rubber soles
taiko/daiko	drum; can also refer to the art of Japanese drumming