Taiko Boom - (Asia: Local Studies / Global Themes) by Shawn Bender (Paperback)

About the Book

"Thought-provoking, informative and fresh, Bender's multi-faceted ethnomusicology of "taiko" promises to endure as the definitive scholarship on the topic for some time to come." -E. Taylor Atkins, author of "Blue Nippon"

"Immensely readable, unique and thoughtful, "Taiko Boom" is a must-have for anyone interested in "taiko," and there are many--it's difficult to overstate the explosion in popularity"taiko" has experienced globally. Flashy and powerful, it's unlike any other music. Bender presents here the first thorough look at this art form in Japan, detailing the origins and meaning of this style." - Jennifer Milioto Matsue, Associate Professor of Music, Asian Studies and Anthropology at Union College

Book Synopsis

With its thunderous sounds and dazzling choreography, Japanese taiko drumming has captivated audiences in Japan and across the world, making it one of the most successful performing arts to emerge from Japan in the past century. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted among taiko groups in Japan, Taiko Boom explores the origins of taiko in the early postwar period and its popularization over the following decades of rapid economic growth in Japan's cities and countryside. Building on the insights of globalization studies, the book argues that taiko developed within and has come to express new forms of communal association in a Japan increasingly engaged with global cultural flows. While its popularity has created new opportunities for Japanese to participate in community life, this study also reveals how the discourses and practices of taiko drummers dramatize tensions inherent in Japanese conceptions of race, the body, gender, authenticity, and locality.

From the Back Cover

"Thought-provoking, informative and fresh, Bender's multi-faceted ethnomusicology of taiko promises to endure as the definitive scholarship on the topic for some time to come." -E. Taylor Atkins, author of Blue Nippon



"Immensely readable, unique and thoughtful, Taiko Boom is a must-have for anyone interested in taiko, and there are many--it's difficult to overstate the explosion in popularitytaiko has experienced globally. Flashy and powerful, it's unlike any other music. Bender presents here the first thorough look at this art form in Japan, detailing the origins and meaning of this style." - Jennifer Milioto Matsue, Associate Professor of Music, Asian Studies and Anthropology at Union College

Review Quotes

"Taiko Boom addresses a major gap in the literature. . . . A real strength is the author's informative yet accessible style. Bender's narrative is strewed with fascinating gems."-- "Japan Forum" (10/22/2015 12:00:00 AM)

"A welcome contribution to studies of globalization, music, and Japan studies more generally. . . . Engrossing ethnography . . . Extensive fieldwork."-- "The Journal of Asian Studies" (8/1/2015 12:00:00 AM)

"Engaging, entertaining and accessible . . . fascinating . . . a very welcome addition to the literature."-- "The Japan Society of the UK" (8/1/2015 12:00:00 AM)

"The first book in English to deal solely with the post-Second World War development of ensemble taiko drumming in Japan. . . . A milestone publication providing a research foundation for others to draw from while also offering a methodology for future studies."-- "Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute" (3/1/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"Well researched, immensely detailed, this may well be the last word, or sound, on the subject for a long time."-- "Japan Times" (3/19/2013 12:00:00 AM)

"Bender's straightforward prose, his focus on issues of gender, race, locality and nationalism, and his avoidance of musical minutiae make the book inviting to a general readership and an excellent text for undergraduate classes on Japanese culture... [Taiko Boom] is an invaluable contribution to our understanding of this genre and what it means for Japan."--Jay Keister "Ethnomusicology Forum" (4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM)

"Destined to be a classic text. . . . Those who really want to know Japanese drumming will find this book essential."--Stan Shikuma "International Examiner" (1/17/2013 12:00:00 AM)

"Thorough. . . . Recommended."--D.J. Schmalenberger, McNally Smith College of Music "Choice" (3/1/2013 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Shawn Bender is a Cultural Anthropologist and Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies at Dickinson College.