The Process of Making a Solid Wood Hollowed Taiko Drum
Selection of Raw Wood
To produce high-quality Taiko Drums, we source premium raw materials from around the world. This includes primarily keyaki (zelkova) wood from Japan, ash, bubinga from Africa, and African padauk.
Processing
We use both manual techniques and specialized equipment for external cutting and internal hollowing.
Chamber Drying
The drying time for a hollowed drum chamber from a single piece of wood ranges from about 2 to over 5 years. Smaller sizes typically require natural drying over two summers, while larger drum chambers need more than five summers. We employ natural drying methods to ensure the wood is fully stabilized, which requires ample time to complete this process.
External Surface Polishing and Internal Sound Reflection Shaping
We polish the external surface and shape the internal drum chamber to enhance sound reflection. Although the interior of the Taiko Drum is not visible, shaping it can produce better sound quality. There are various shaping methods available for the interior design.
Selection and Preparation of Cowhide
Not every piece of cowhide can produce good sound quality. Based on our years of experience, only about 10% of cowhides are suitable for Taiko Drum skins. In winter, we select leather that can be crafted to produce a good sound when struck. The cowhide is treated to remove the hair roots, tanned, and dried in natural sunlight to make it suitable for use in Taiko drums.
Preliminary Skin Stretching
The tanned leather is initially stretched according to the size of each Taiko drum, fixed into shape, and then dried and stored.
Painting
After applying the base color, we coat the drum with a primer and allow it to dry before sanding. This process is repeated 2-3 times. Finally, we apply the top coat, completing a beautifully finished drum shell.
Final Skin Stretching
Using specialized equipment, the drum skin is stretched evenly. To avoid uneven sound quality, only skilled craftsmen can master the tension of the leather. The craftsman strikes the drum and adjusts the leather to ensure even tension across the drumhead, making continuous adjustments until the desired sound quality is achieved. Finally, the drum nails are affixed, completing the creation of a Taiko Drum.
Completion
After going through dozens of processes, a Taiko drum is completed. A good Taiko drum can accompany people for decades or even centuries.
Protection Measures
Our company does not treat the wood chips generated during the processing of wood as industrial waste; instead, they are reprocessed into incense raw materials. We do not waste the resources that nature provides us. We focus on environmental protection and actively participate in reforestation activities to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the blessings of nature.
