In the distant deserts of the Middle East, there is a group called Shoten Taiko，which brings vibrant taiko culture to life in the modern city of Dubai .This connection began with a sincere message of collaboration，spanning over seven kilometers and marking the start of a cultural exchange.
During spring 2025, Mr. James Beale, the founder of Shoten Taiko, discovered the JINLEI brand through the social media and was drawn to our refined drum-making craftsmanship.Unexpectedly，a successful partnership soon unfolded. He explained in his message that his team was preparing for an important performance and required some high-quality taiko drums with excellent sound. So his request was: “We would like to order two new Nagado drums and multipurpose stands, 1.5 shaku and 1.6 shaku. Also, please advise the prices for the Bu series and the Hikari series.”
In the following weeks, our two teams maintained close communication. We quickly found that James was a very detail-oriented person. He had high standards especially regarding drum materials, sound quality, production time, and shipping. Fortunately, JINLEI’s Hikari series could perfectly met all of his needs. Our drums are carved from single blocks of ash wood, naturally dried for 3–5 years, and fitted with high-quality cowhide. This manufacturing process helps the Hikari series have a deep and powerful sound. In order to show our sincerity and strong interest in working together with James. we also provided him a special discount for his first order. We promised that we will closely monitor the production and ensure top quality of our products.
In June 2025, James put his order on our website and paid the deposit. Since that, Our workshop started producing his order immediately.The Hikari series drums are coated using traditional lacquer techniques. It is a special technique that workers extract natural lacquer directly from the lacquer tree and collected them through V-shaped or willow-leaf-shaped cuts. And then , they also refined the lacquer through dozens of steps.
The most crucial step is polishing. The raw wood must be repeatedly sanded using progressively finer grits of sandpaper until the surface becomes just like mirror smoothness. All of the imperfections would become glaringly visible beneath the translucent lacquer. And then，The craftsman applies a thin and transparent tinted lacquer. Each layer must dry completely in a controlled environment with specific temperature and humidity levels. After drying, the surface is carefully polished with fine sandpaper or soaked charcoal to remove any brush marks or dust particles. This process is typically repeated 3 times to achieve perfection. Thanks to this process, the lacquer finish can last for centuries without any cracking issues.
At the same time, our drumheads are made of premium cowhide, manually stretched, positioned, nailed, and tuned by experienced craftsmen. This means that our drums have an even thickness and consistent sound. The entire production process took about 45 days. We believe that each step can reflect JINLEI’s craftsmanship and dedication.After completion, we sent photos and videos to James.He replied:“The quality looks amazing already. I can’t wait to hear how they sound.”
By August ,James’s order was ready for packaging and shipping. Our JINLEI demonstrated the strong professionalism in this stage. We used export-grade wooden cases, foam and anti-impact materials to protect the drums carefully. We also kept contacting with James , so that he could update with shipping details and trust us with the delivery. In the early September, the drums successfully arrived at Dubai Port. James sent us a message as soon as they arrived: “They have arrived!! I can’t wait to open them.”
A few days later, James shared unboxing photos and videos of the drums with us. In the testing video, the drums performed even perfectly and the beautiful sound filled the practice room. James praised the drums highly: “The quality of this drum is good .The overall construction quality is very high, and the drum bodies are beautiful pieces of solid wood.” And he also told us that they have two gigs coming up in the next month . He will send us the performance videos.
Less than a month, James sent us the videos of two major performances. These were the first time our drums showing the sounds. Under the shining stage lights, the warm wood grain of the drums were really outstanding and the powerful sound of the taiko echoed through the hall.
In addition to，James also provided valuable feedback for us. He mentioned that the JINLEI badge was placed too close to the drum stand, making the visual layout somewhat crowded. We responded positively: “Your suggestion is very valuable . We‘ll consider adjusting the badge placement.”
However , our communication with James did not end there. He wrote to us : “The quality exceeded my expectations and is comparable to the best taiko I’ve played. These drums offer great value and are finished to a high standard.” This message strongly combined our bond and we firmly believe that James will become a long-term partner and key representatives for JINLEI in the Middle East. Today，they have introduced JINLEI Taiko to customers at several Japanese restaurants in Dubai.
To sum up, our team sincerely thanks Shoten Taiko for their trust and support.Just as James said“These taiko drums are not just instruments，they are bridges between cultures.” This is far more than a simple transaction，it is a journey of craftsmanship, music and cultural exchange. On the other hand, we are very grateful that they have brought the sound of JINLEI taiko to Dubai. We will continue to inherit the spirit of craftsmanship and respond to every taiko enthusiast in the years to come so that more taiko enthusiasts like James can express their love for music and culture through JINLEI’s drums. This meaningful partnership will remain a driving force that inspire us to move forward.
