taiko

The Okinawan Taiko is generally barrel shaped, but there are others, such as the "Hirazuri Taiko," hung on a wooden frame, the "Hiragata Taiko," placed and beat on a pedestal, and the "Shime Taiko," placed and beat on a special stand, called the "Kyodai." The "Chijin," used for the "Ushideku," and the "Paranku," a one-sided Taiko that has leather tacked on one side of a hardwood frame, are additional types of Taiko. The Taiko is an accompanying musical instrument indispensable to Okinawan performing arts.