But according to Japanese mythology, the inventor of taiko music was Ame no Uzume, the Goddess of dawn and revelry:
According to the myth, Amaterasu-ōmikami, the Sun Goddess, upset by her brother, locked herself into a cave, leaving the world without the sun.
To bringing her out, Ame no Uzume started to dance, beating the rhythm in a wooden tub (or sake barrel, according to other versions).
And that way, the taiko music was born...
You can read the rest of the myth here or here
Photo from the Kumagaya Uchiwa Matsuri:
EXIF info:
Nikon D300
Lens: VR 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 270mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200