Tokyo’s Miyamoto-Unosuke Drum Museum isn’t just a passive viewing experience—it’s an opportunity to unleash your inner percussionist. Established by Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten, renowned for crafting taiko drums and festival gear for over 150 years, this museum opened its doors in 1988. Nestled on the fourth floor of Nishiasakusa’s building in Taito ward, it houses a collection of 800 drums and 3,000 books sourced globally.
Visitors are invited to explore diverse drumming traditions across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, South Asia, East Asia, North America, and Oceania. Each exhibit not only showcases drums but also delves into their cultural significance and historical context. Highlights include the unique Apa drum from Papua New Guinea, crafted from wood with a distinctive opossum or lizard-skin drumhead in the shape of a crocodile, and the Kundu, an hourglass drum adorned with carvings of crocodiles, human faces, or dancers, used in religious rites and festivities.
What sets this museum apart is its interactive approach: drums marked with an eighth note are meant to be played, encouraging visitors to create their own rhythms under the guidance of knowledgeable staff. One visitor particularly enjoyed experimenting with the steel pan drum from Trinidad, marveling at its musical scale displayed above for easy note recognition.
For music enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike, Miyamoto-Unosuke Drum Museum offers an immersive journey through the beating heart of global percussion, inviting you to not just observe, but to be heard.
