means simply "drum" in japanese. outside japan, the word is used to refer to any of the different kinds of japanese drums (, "wadaiko", "japanese drum" in japanese) and to the more or less new art of taiko drumming bands (sometimes better called, "kumi-daiko", ). the taiko drum originated in the country of japan. this drum was created by daihachi oguchi in 1951. the taiko drum makes a very loud, deep sound.