It’s late in the evening on a Thursday night. I’m sitting on the floor, chowing down my budget-friendly dinner courtesy of Taco Bell. Before the interview begins, a large drum is unveiled from two sheets concealing its presence. The barrel-sized drum is hefty and monumental. This is a “Taiko” which translates to “drum" in Japanese. As I’m preparing to initiate the interview, a strike is made toward the center of the hide which covers the top of the drum, filling the small room with a powerful boom. A few more strikes later and then what began as a demonstration transformed into an effusive performance; and I, the one-woman audience, had floor seats.
When Brandon Villon began his journey with Taiko drumming in 2017 at the California State University, Northridge, it wasn’t another hobby to pass time – it was a life-changing art he adopted. With a background in western music and prior experience with percussion, Villon was drawn to the historical significance behind the art of Taiko drumming. His participation in the art form, specifically American Taiko, became pivotal after learning about the amount of violence against Asians during COVID-19. American Taiko, compared to traditional Japanese Taiko, emphasizes social activism, particularly anti-racism. “Taiko has become one of the many cultural safeguards that keep the Asian-American mentality alive and healthy,” Villon said.
Upon preparing for a Taiko competition in Los Angeles in 2024, Villon had practiced on tires. Yes, real black rubber tires used for cars. These tires are wrapped securely with duct tape to recreate the effect and build of a true Taiko drum. Villon says he practiced from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the week leading up to the competition. It was a brutal practice schedule. When the competition came, he won. While this victory showcased Villon’s skill and talent for the Japanese art form, it does not encapsulate the purpose of his involvement in Taiko.
Wolf Pack Taiko did not begin as a thriving club. Established in 2022 by Juliann Schultz, the membership was small and eventually dwindled to only three members. Villon entered the Taikai, or tournament, in Los Angeles to show “the participants and the community watching that Taiko competition that Wolf Pack Taiko existed.” Since the competition, the club escalated to over 20 members within the year.
“I wanted to show to them that even though we were small, we were very mighty and even though we didn’t have a lot of equipment, we still knew how to hold our own,” Villon says.
Photo and reporting submitted by Lindsay Burback
Boom Goes the Bachi: Brandon Villon’s Thunderous Journey in Taiko
In photo, Brandon Villon holds a pair of bachi, wooden sticks used for taiko drums. On the right is a “chudaiko", a medium-sized drum. On the left is a “shime-daiko”, a small, high-pitched drum tightened together with rope. Villon is a member of the Reno Taiko Tsurunokai group. They accept performance requests and causes geared toward education, philanthropy and events which foster community building. The performances are intended to share the joy of Taiko and spread the education of Japanese culture across Reno.