I don't want to work
I just want to bang on the drum all day

Taiko (太鼓) are a kind of traditional Japanese drums. Have you ever listened to them before? The performances are really something to see. Everyone plays in complete unison, down to using the exact same hand and arm gestures. I have no idea how much practice goes into this, but I imagine it is a lot!

Here is a video I took with my iPhone of a recent performance I saw at a local festival.

This is one of the less exciting songs, but it was the only one I filmed—the rest of the time I was shooting photos with the camera. Even one of the less exciting ones, it gives you an idea of what is involved in these things.

	David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku.