With the dream of raising Japanese "taiko" drumming to worldwide prominence, a centuries-old maker of the traditional instruments is creating a business foothold in Los Angeles.
Encouraged by a steep increase in sales of taiko drums in the United States, Asano Taiko Co. has been preparing to open a Los Angeles shop and launch a course in taiko lessons in July since setting up a U.S. subsidiary last June.
In recent years, ensemble taiko drumming has become a popular pastime, particularly among Japanese-Americans on the West Coast. Nationwide, roughly 300 taiko ensembles have sprouted up.