Taiko Building - From Wine Barrel to Japanese Drum
Preparing the Skin

Cut a piece of cowhide to size (about 1 foot wider than the diameter of the drum head). Soak it in water for several hours. Once it softens, cut notches near the edges at equidistant points around the radius.

RIGHT - June measures and cuts the notches according the cardboard template that has been used to make Portland Taiko's last two odaiko.

Thread dowels (short sticks) into those notches. It should be a tight fit, requiring the use of a screwdriver, a mallet and lots of elbow grease! Equal lengths of the dowel must stick out at either end (you will see why on the next page!).

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