In Japanese, "taiko" means "drum"--or, more descriptively, "great drum." If you've ever seen a taiko drumming performance in person, the phrase "great drum" makes sense.

Taiko drumming is big, broad and acrobatic. Taiko drummers approach their instruments with confidence and flair, most often striking them with straight wooden sticks known as a bachi to make huge sounds. Though theatrical taiko drumming performances are a relatively recent phenomenon--Daihachi Oguchi debuted the first taiko drumming ensemble in 1951--taiko drumming originated to millennia ago as a part of the ancient Japanese court music.