Our Songs
Airbender – One of our four original “Bending” songs, Airbender is also known as Become a Leaf or Happa Ni Natte. It was composed by St. Olaf Taiko members Steven Braun and Maxyne Leitner.
Bakuhatsu – Meaning explosion, an upbeat and loud song our whole club can play at once.
Biscuits – Also known as Biscuits and Danger or Bisuketto to Kiken, Biscuits involves many forms of back and forth playing between drums. It was composed by St. Olaf Taiko member Steven Braun.
Earthbender – One of our “Bending” suite songs. Earthbender is played with three chu-daiko players in the middle of the stage. It’s also known as Yamamichi.
Firebender – One of our “Bending” suite songs. Firebender is intense and complex and utilizes a lot of movements inspired by combat. It is also known as Taiyou no Jounetsu.
Jouba – Jouba was written by former St. Olaf Taiko member Steven Braun and was inspired by the Legend of Zelda games.
Matsuri – Meaning Festival, Matsuri is a traditional taiko song we sometimes teach as a first song to incoming kohai.
Omiyage – Originally taught to the club by Joe Mignano of Mu Daiko and by TAIKOPROJECT. This song is typically played by senior members of the group as a goodbye song, and is quite difficult to learn. Omiyage means “gift”.
Oiuchi – The Greatest, originally by the Taiko master Kenny Endo. Oiuchi involves a lot of movement and is often one of the first songs taught to kohai members.
Raku – Originally by Shidara Taiko and taught to our club by Mu-Daiko, Raku has many versions unique to different groups. The name raku means “fun” and this song lives up to its name as a high-energy piece we all play together.
Ryū – Formerly known as Ryū no Shokuji, or The Dragon’s Meal, this complex song tells the story of a dragon and has a serious and tense tone.
Waterbender – This is our final “Bending” song. Waterbender uses a unique and fluid style of movement as well as many dance elements. It is also known as Aonami.
Yuubinkyoku – Also known as Yuubinkyoku he no Tabi, or The Journey to the Post Office, was the first original St. Olaf Taiko song. It tells the story of a St. Olaf student who rushes to the Post Office before it closes so he can retrieve a cake from his mother. This song utilizes the fue, or flute. We often teach Yuubinkyoku as a first song to incoming kohai.
Lost and Retired Songs
Ayame – Iris, an original song written by St. Olaf Taiko member Olivia James as a thank you to the club’s original teacher, Iris Shiraishi.
Densetsu – Legend
Ei Ja Nai Ka – Isn’t it Good? (colloquial), written by PJ Hirabayashi of San Jose Taiko, is a tribute to early Japanese immigrants and the hard labor they endured working on farms, in the mines, fishing, and on the railroad. It includes singing and dancing.
Hoshizora – Starry Sky
The Journey – This mysterious song only exists in the St. Olaf Taiko private archive of videos, as no known public recording of it exists. It was composed by a St. Olaf member early in the club’s history and notably complex. It was retired many years ago with the instructions left behind for it to never be played outside of the club, again.
Tatakai – The Fight, a song written by former St. Olaf student, Maxwell Johnson, as an experiment to create a Taiko song in 7/8 timing.
The Dancing Bear of Dublin – also known as Odoru Kuma.