It¡¯s the image that comes to most people when they think of a traditional taiko (Japanese drum) performance: A man standing in front of a giant drum, back to the crowd and furiously banging away to create a powerful rhythm.
Surprisingly, though, this way of performing isn¡¯t a tradition at all ¡ª it¡¯s just the way Eitetsu Hayashi plays.
¡°This is just the way I¡¯m able to create a rhythm on such a large drum,¡± says taiko artist Eitetsu Hayashi, the originator of the style. ¡°If I didn¡¯t do it this way, I wouldn¡¯t be able to create as powerful a sound, since I have such a small build.
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