Drums typically represent the most ancient musical tools within any society, and the Taiko has a historical presence dating back over 2,000 years in ancient Japan. Archaeological and anthropological studies suggest that during the Jomon era, people used drums as a means of communication or in religious rituals. However, the percussion instruments of that time were likely distinct from the Taiko used in contemporary settings.

The evolution of the Taiko in Japan seems to have been influenced by similar instruments in China and Korea, indicating a probable introduction from the Asian Continent, potentially as far-reaching as India. The mixture of continental music into Japan occurred around the fifth to sixth centuries, coinciding with waves of cultural influence from China and Korea, particularly rooted in Buddhism. With the enactment of the Taiho Ritsuryo in 702, the oldest constitution of Japan, an imperial court music department was established within the Imperial Palace. This department, now recognised as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset, has directly inherited various Taiko styles, including San-no-tsuzumi, Furi-tsuzumi, Dadaiko, Tsuri-daiko, Ninai-daiko, Kakko, Kaiko, and Ikko, all integral to court music. This courtly style is considered one of the foundational roots of the Taiko music that we know today. 

Finding Her Beat, a documentary directed by Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett, offers the viewer a fascinating blend of live Taiko drumming performances while also showcasing American and Japanese Taiko players who are greatly passionate about trying to challenge gender norms – in Japanese tradition, it is the man who ought to play the Taiko drums. 

Finding the Beat features well-known talents such as Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Kaoly Asano, Chieko Kojima, Megan Chao-Smith, and Jennifer Weir, who take the audience on a journey that explores both their struggles for recognition and their successful performances. The documentary depicts the power and strength of women who want to bring themselves into the centre of the arts. For centuries, women were excluded from Taiko drumming, but this documentary marks a revolutionary change, with hundreds of people and thousands of women now performing across North America and worldwide. 

Additionally, Finding Her Beat also follows a Japanese drum master and a Korean adoptee from North Dakota as they unite to assemble the Taiko drummers. In a daring attempt to claim a cultural spotlight historically reserved for men, their rhythm “revolution” includes the aforementioned artists from the world of Taiko. As these skilled women traverse disparities “in language, culture, age, and performance styles”, we witness the rapid formation of deep friendships among them. Above all, the film discusses topics such as cultural and racial identity, the obstacles encountered by artists belonging to often discriminated genders, and their fervour for a subculture intentionally structured to exclude them.

By adopting a character-driven format, Finding Her Beat not only introduces fresh subject matter to its audience but also creates narrative tension for Japanese performers accustomed to a cultural emphasis on the separation between private and public lives. Finding Her Beat is a powerful narrative of women carving out their journey by marching to the beat of their own drum, signifying a milestone in the history of Taiko.

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