Outside Japan , the word is used to call to any of the different kinds of Japanese drums ( å ' å é 1\/4 `` , wa-daiko , `` Japanese drum '' , in Japanese ) and to the more or less new art of taiko drumming bands ( sometimes better called , `` kumi-daiko '' , ç å é 1\/4 `` ) . The taiko drum originated in the country of Japan . Other Japanese taiko include the `` uchiwa-daiko '' ( å # æ å é 1\/4 `` ã fan taiko ) , `` hira-daiko '' ( å å é 1\/4 `` , flat taiko ) , `` minariisa daiko '' ( fun time drum ) , `` konisawa-daiko '' ( tight\/hard\/tense drum ) and a host of percussion instruments used in Japan 's traditional noh , gagaku , and kabuki ensembles .