May 31, 2004

Zenshin Daiko Finishes Hiradaiko

Zenshin Daiko is now the proud owner of the largest hiradaiko in the State of Hawaii and one of the largest hiradaiko outside of Japan. The drum is about five feet in diameter and weighs about 300 pounds. When mounted on the stand in the upright position the top of the drum is over eight feet above the ground.

Work on the drum started on November 19, 2003 and was completed on April 11, 2004. ZD’s dedicated crew of drum builders consisted of Bill & Jean Uemura, Brooks Tamaye & family, Maurice & Yvonne Jo, and Anthony & Valerie Jones. They worked almost every Sunday, combining their energy and skills to complete the drum. Chuck Hirata and Clifford Cua also contributed their talents whenever they could.

Building a drum this size was a challenge every step of the way. Figuring out how to handle the immense size and weight was a daunting task. New techniques had to be thought up, new jigs had to be built and then two large hides had to be prepared. ZD was lucky to be able to consult with Mark Miyoshi of Miyoshi Daiko, one of the most respected taiko builders in North America.

After the drum was completed, a stand that would hang the hiradaiko upright eight feet above the ground had to be designed and built. This proved to be a major project all by itself. After a lot of thinking, ZD’s drum builders came up with a stand 7 feet wide, 6 feet deep and 9 1/2 feet tall that could be assembled and disassembled quickly.

ZD received a grant from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to help buy the materials to build the drum. ZD also received a lot of help from the community. Special thanks for the donations in money, labor, materials and expertise from Buddy Nobriga, Ruth Jones, Mr. & Mrs. Norman Kawamura, Decoite Packing House, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Fox III, Mike Santos, Mr. & Mrs. Masaru Uradomo, Susanne Takamiya, Gail Iwamoto, Tom Welch Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Wallace Fujii, Charles Kellogg, Bill Parks - Honsador Lumber, Oliver Cummings Jr., and really, extra special thanks to Shirley Jones - ShirWeld.