Daihachi Oguchi
Osuwa Daiko II
Victor (Japan) 1978
KVX-1047 (LP) w/obi, insert.
sleeve : EX(very slightly dirts.)
media : EX/EX(some slightly noise.)
The second superb album, released in 1978, by Daihachi Oguchi and Osuwa Daiko — masters who faithfully inherited the Suwa taiko tradition said to have originated in kagura and festival music of Suwa City, Nagano, home to the ancient Suwa Taisha shrine known for its indigenous belief system and the Onbashira festival, with settlements dating back to the Jōmon period — while boldly pursuing new creative directions. Oguchi, a descendant of the Oguchi family who served as chief retainers under Atobe Ōinosuke, the war-drum magistrate of Takeda Shingen, again contributes four original compositions here as on the first volume, with only A1 composed by contemporary composer Masanori Fujita. A powerful document capturing the overwhelming, thunderous ensemble drumming of Osuwa Daiko — regarded as one of Japan’s three great taiko traditions. A magnificent recording.