Roland Taiko-1 Electronic Taiko Drum

The TAIKO-1 electronic percussion instrument brings authentic Japanese drumming into the digital age, combining traditional katsugi okedo daiko design with Roland’s advanced electronic percussion technology. Built in Japan and backed by decades of development expertise from products like V-Drums and the ELCajon EC-10, this innovative instrument makes taiko drumming more accessible and versatile than ever before. The digital sound engine goes far beyond what any acoustic drum can offer, putting an entire collection of taiko percussion sounds into one compact instrument.

From the familiar nagado daiko to the thunderous odaiko, plus smaller shime taiko drums, TAIKO-1 houses the complete range of traditional taiko voices. Additional sounds include various bachi stick variations, chappa cymbals, hyoshigi wooden blocks, and layered drumline sounds, complete with authentic shouts and calls typical of taiko performances. The dual-zone trigger technology with positional sensing responds to your playing technique – centre hits produce punchy, full tones, while off-centre playing creates longer sustains and edge hits provide crisp, sharp sounds.

Practice becomes possible anytime and anywhere thanks to the specially-designed mesh heads that maintain a natural playing feel while keeping noise to a minimum. Simply plug in headphones to enjoy full, dynamic taiko tones without disturbing others, and utilise the built-in ji-uchi backing patterns for timing practice or performance accompaniment. At just 4.5kg, TAIKO-1 matches the weight of a traditional katsugi okedo daiko but offers the convenience of quick disassembly – simply remove the eight connecting rods between heads for easy transport in small vehicles or on public transport.

Customisation options allow you to import your own WAV sounds via USB flash drive, whether personal recordings of your own taiko instruments or third-party sound libraries. These imported sounds can be played independently or layered with internal instruments to create unique blended voices, opening up creative possibilities that extend well beyond traditional taiko applications while maintaining the instrument’s expressive playability.