This championship taiko team from Fukuoka University combines powerful drumming, dynamic formations, and youthful energy in an electrifying modern stage performance.
 

★ Fukuoka University’s wadaiko group “Kobuzaru” won Japan’s National Seven-Person Wadaiko Championship in 2026, after finishing runner-up in the same competition in 2023.

Fukuoka University’s wadaiko group “Kobuzaru” was founded in 2005 as a student club and officially became the university’s wadaiko club in 2018. Its performance spirit emphasizes the energy, strength, and emotional impact unique to students, together with gratitude toward audiences and supporters. Through rigorous training, members develop both performance technique and close ensemble coordination. In addition to appearing at campus, community, and local events, the group has performed in Taiwan, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Kobuzaru participated in 2018 Nan Ying International Folklore Festival and returned to Tainan for the 2024 Ten Drum Arts Festival, building a strong connection with the city.
 

【Performance Highlights】
The performance is driven by the deep, powerful sound of Japanese taiko drums, combined with sweeping arm movements, forceful steps, turns, and formation changes that make the act of drumming itself a visually dynamic stage performance. Along with different types of taiko, the ensemble also uses percussion such as small cymbals. Its repertoire ranges from majestic, thunderous drum pieces to lighter works with a contemporary feel, fully expressing the youthful energy and explosive power of a university ensemble.