The tsudzumi (鼓) or tsuzumi is a hand drum from Japan. It has a wooden body shaped like an hourglass and is tight. Two drum heads are attached with strings that can be tightened or loosened to change the tension. This allows the player to adjust the drum's pitch while playing, similar to the African talking drum and the Indian dhadd.

History

The earlier version of the tsuzumi, called the yōko (腰鼓, hip drum), was introduced to Japan from southern China in the 7th century as part of the gigaku ensemble. There were four types of yōko, but only two remain today: the ikko (壱鼓) and the san-no-tsudzumi (三ノ鼓). Like the modern tsuzumi, the yōko's drumhead was attached to a hemp cord named the shirabeo (調べ緒). Unlike the modern instrument, the yōko was hung from the performer's neck. The drumhead was struck with a mallet in the right hand and the palm of the left hand.

In the 12th century, the way the ikko, the smallest type of yōko, was played changed. Performers began hitting one side of the drum with the right hand and adjusting the pitch with the left hand. Around this time, the name of the ikko was changed to kotsuzumi (小鼓; also called shōko).

The tsuzumi was first used by the Shirabyōshi, later becoming the main instrument in the hayashi section of Noh performances and later in kabuki.

Performance

There are two main ways to play a tsuzumi. One method is to hold the cords loosely and strike the center of the drumhead. The other method is to tighten the cords and hit the drumhead near where it connects to the wooden body. The first method creates softer sounds called "pon" and "pu," while the second method creates higher-pitched sounds called "ta" and "chi." Striking the center of the drumhead may cause vibrations to cancel each other, making the sound weaker. To fix this, the tsuzumi is adjusted by adding small leather patches inside the drumheads, similar to how larger drums called shime-daiko are tuned in Noh and Kabuki performances. The tsuzumi is more delicate than the shime-daiko, so it is often adjusted further on-site based on the temperature and humidity. This is done by placing pieces of washi paper, wet with the player's saliva, on the drumheads.

Caring for the tsuzumi requires careful attention to moisture. Before playing, the player breathes directly onto both drumheads. Sometimes, the player also uses saliva to moisten the drumhead. The quality of the sound depends on the amount of moisture in the air. To keep the drumheads moist, the player may breathe onto them during breaks in playing. However, if the drumheads become too wet, they may become too loose, making them hard to play. Excess moisture can also cause visible waves on the drumhead's surface, which harms the sound quality.

Construction

Each drumhead is made by sewing a piece of foal skin onto an iron ring. A thick layer of support is added to the back, and the drumhead is finished with urushi lacquer and gold leaves. The stitching marks are covered with urushi lacquer, which adds decoration and extra strength. In contrast, the drumheads used for the ōtsuzumi are made of thick horsehide and are never decorated because they are meant to be used up over time. The wooden body is carved from a single block of cherry wood and decorated with urushi lacquer and gold leaves in the maki-e style. The bodies are 25 centimeters long. The hemp cords were previously dyed red, but other dyes are now used because red dye can be harmful.

Because of the careful steps taken to make them, a set of drumheads combined with the wooden body can last for centuries if properly cared for. It is common for professional players to use instruments made during the Edo or Muromachi periods. New instruments may take years or even decades of use before they are broken in. Only the cords that hold the instrument together need to be replaced regularly, as they wear out over time.

The tsuzumi is used in both Noh and kabuki theater music. It is also used in min'yō, or Japanese folk music. It is often played with its larger counterpart, the ōtsuzumi, also called ōkawa.

The East entrance gate at JR Kanazawa Station was built to resemble the tsuzumi.