Tsuzumi

The Tsuzumi (Japanese鼓) or kotsuzumi (小鼓) is a Japanese hand drum, which is mainly used for performances used. The hourglass has a thin rod that connects the two sides strike in the middle.

Use

It is the only drum of Japan, which is played with the hands. All other drums such as the taiko are played with mallets ( Bachi ). It is usually played over the shoulder by being tapped with my hands.

Nowadays Tsuzumi is played primarily in Kabuki and Noh theater in. Even with the geishas is the Tsuzumi eg when Miyako Odori still in use, just as in traditional Japanese folk music.

Term

The character鼓(in Japanese: Tsuzumi or Sino Japanese: ko) described earlier, as now in China, any type of drum, which is why even the big Taiko be written with this character. For this reason, hand drums are also called kotsuzumi " small drum ".

The Japanese reading Tsuzumi should be either borrowed from Sanskrit dundubhi or dudubhi for ancient Indian drums or the Chinese dōutánɡǔ (Chinese都 昙 鼓/都 昙 鼓).