"The name Sukeroku comes from the chic and spirited role model of the Edokko (people of Old Tokyo). Sukeroku is the main character in the Kabuki play, "Sukeroku Yukari Edo Zakura", a play which best sums up Old Tokyo's charm. It was only natural that the first taiko group in Tokyo was named after this character. Souke Seido Kobayashi started the group after learning his late brother Seiko Kobayashi's Bon-dance taiko drum technique, and he continued to polish the classical Japanese music sensibilities, choreography, and kakegoe (shouting) of the style. Oedo Sukeroku Taiko has become a great accomplishment, and it embodies the perfect harmony of the Edokko's vigor and sensitivity. Seido Kobayashi's appearance reminds me of Sukeroku himself, in black silk kimono and purple crape bandana; the essence of Old Tokyo lives in his performance."
Mr. Masahiro Nishitsunoi, Folk Art Researcher

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1944 Seido Kobayashi is born in Hongo, Tokyo. Started Bon-dance taiko at the age of 12.
1959 Won the 1st Bon-dance taiko contest organized by the Yushima Tenjin Shrine in Tokyo. The solo Bon-dance taiko style is created by his late brother, Seiko Kobayashi, and Seido establishes the Bon-dance taiko group Oedo Sukeroku Taiko. It was named after Seiko's noodle factory, which was called "Sukeroku Seimen" at that time. Established Shinne Daiko with 3 other bon-daiko members and build the foundation of kumi-daiko. Studied basic playing styles under Sasazo Kineya. As a result of the hard practice of those 4 members, the first kumi-daiko group in Tokyo, "Oedo Sukeroku Taiko," announced its establishment.
1961 Won the third Bon-daiko contest. 　　　　　　　　　
1962 Presented Nidan-uchi and Yodan-uchi, composed by Seido Kobayashi, and built the foundation of Oedo Sukeroku style Taiko. 1966 Performed with Jazz Drummer Art Blakey for TV Asahi. 1977 Toured in the former Soviet Union and 3 other countries for International amity.
1985 First USA concert tour
1986 Founded Tokyo Taiko Association, and became the first Chairman. Performed in USA, Europe, and former Soviet Union. 1989 Belgium Concert Tour
1991 First French tour
1992 Recorded CD "Tokyo Diary" with Latin Percussionist Marco Bosco TV Program, "Seido Kobayashi, Les tambours de Tokyo," was aired in France.
1998 Celebrated Souke Seido Kobayashi's 40th year as Taiko performer.

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1966 Performed with the jazz drummer, Art Blakey, for Asahi TV
1972 Geino Hyakusen, NHK TV Program
1977 Nihon no Taiko Series, Shoten, Ninon TV The 27th Folk Art festival, Nihon no Taiko, National Theater Nihon no Taiko, Sendai Sports Center
1978 The 8th Summer Charity Festival Nihon no Taiko
1979 The first Japan Taiko Association Nihon no Taiko ,The 10th Nihon no Rhythm Taiko Matsuri, Kameyama-City
1980 The 33rd Folk Art festival Nihon no Taiko, National Theater Former Soviet Union, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Cultural Amity Mission, Middle East Cultural Amity Mission The 2nd Japan Taiko Association Nihon no Taiko The 12th Nihon no Rhythm Taiko Matsuri, Kameyama-City
1982 The 3rd Japan Taiko Association Nihon no Taiko The 40st Folk Art festival Nihon no Taiko, National Theater (The first Koin no Kai Project) The 200th Year Anniversary Celebration, Thailand Nihon no Taiko, Gotenba Citizen's Center Furusato Taiko Gassen, Ishiwa, Kofu Edo Shokunin Gei, Hotel New Otani '82 World Dance Taikai, NHK, Budokan
　　　　　 　
1983 Taiko Matsuri, Nihondaira, Shizuoka Nihon no Taiko, Sendai Natsu Matsuri Nihon no Taiko, Ishiwa Onsen, Kofu Celebration of Metropolitan Government's Service The 42nd Folk Art festival Nihon no Taiko, National Theater (The 2nd Koin no Kai Project) The 2nd Nihon no Taiko, West Square, Shinjuku Harvest Festival, East Ikebukuro The 8th Asian Arts Festival, Hong Kong
1984 The 1st Oedo Sukeroku Taiko Live Concert, La Mama, Shibuya The 42nd Folk Art festival Nihon no Taiko, National Theater (The 3rd Koin no Kai ) Taiko Matsuri, West Shinjyuku
1986 70th Anniversary Party, Sobu Nagareyama Dentetsu Co. The Japanese Great Three Taiko Festival Harmony of Traditional and Modern Japan, Malaysia Pacific Sightseeing Association Nihon no Taiko, Kurofune Matsuri, Izu Shimoda Heike Matsuri, Yunishikawa Onsen, Tochigi Suijyo Ongakusai, The 35th Ueno Natsu Matsuri, Ueno, Tokyo Fireworks Festival, Yomiuri Land East The 1st Mt. Fuji Taiko Matsuri Natsu Matsuri, Kawasaki Horse race track Natsu Matsuri, Kobe Port pier Japanese Music and Tradition, Hokkaido Tomamu Castle Kanazawa Shitamachi Festival The 49th Folk Art festival Nihon no Taiko, National Theater Taiko Matsuri, Kusatsu Wednesday Special, TV Asahi Taiko Matsuri, West Shinjyuku All Night Fuji, TV Fuji Utau Golden Time, TV Nihon Family party for Australian Ambassador to Japan, Nagata-cho Arima Kinen, Nakayama Horse race track Japan Aide Festival, Jingu Stadium
1987 Seigi no Mikata, TV Fuji Farewell Party, International Women's Ekiden CD "Hana no Oedo Sukeroku Taiko" Recording Yacht Race Party, Hong Kong Celebrating Japanese Mind and Beauty, NHK Hall Party for Danzo Ichikawa, Kabukiza Heike Matsuri, Yunishikawa Onsen, Hanbi Taikai, Sumidagawa Taiko Matsuri, Koga City Fireworks The First Tokyo Taiko Association Recital, National Theater Natsu Matsuri, Kawasaki Horse race track Yume Kojo Festival, Harumi Taiko Matsuri, Nishiogi Station Audio Expo, Harumi Taiko Matsuri, West Shinjyuku Harvest Fest, East Ikebukuro '88 Miss Japan Grand prix Contest, ANA Hotel Music Fair, TV Fuji
1989 Session with Eitetsu Hayashi, Musashino City 100th Year Anniversary WAVE 2000, for the Drams of All Children, Tokyo Dome All Japan Taiko Festival, Castle Matsumoto
1990 Dinner show concert, Kamogawa Seaworld Taiko Festival, Kooriyama Barcelona Exhibition, Yokoyama Surf '90 Taiko Matsuri, Odawara3 '90 Kirishima Kogen Taiko Matsuri, Kagoshima Hishiogi Taiko Matsuri, Tokyo Bachi no Kyoen, Tokyo Taiko Association Farewell Ceremony for Hanahaku, Osaka Geijyutsu Kansho Concert, Edogawa, Tokyo Reception, World Culutal Decoration Ceremony Cultural Exchange Concert, Gunma Kitaro Concert, Harumi, Tokyo
1991 Opening Ceremony, Tomin no Hiroba Taiko Festival, Fukushima Nishikawa cho Matsuri, Niigata Oedo Night Concert, Korakuen Tsukumi Taiko Festival, Oita Manazuru Matsuri, Kanagawa Art Appreciation Concert for High School Students, Kashiwa Taiko Festival, Chichibu Muse Park Dinner show Concert, Teikoku Hotel
1992 Fukushima Taiko Festival, Kooriyama Fukumitsu cho Tanabata Matsuri, Toyama East Concert, Yomiuri Land Yokohama Bunka Hall Concert Furusato no Hibiki Taiko Matsuri, Ishikawa Taiko Festival, Chichibu Muse Park
1993 Gohin-shu Live, Livehouse La Mama Japan Three Great Taiko Concert, Tachikawa Manazuru Matsuri Fukushima Taiko Festival Wadaiko in Ota, Ota Plaza Hall 100th Year Anniversary, Tsukiji Honganji
1994 Oshiro Matsuri Taiko Festival, Shikoku Marukame Chichibu Taiko Matsuri Kooriyama Taiko Festival, Fukushima Sukeroku Approach Live, Yokohama, Takashimadaira Urayasu city hall Concert Hibiya Kokaido Concert
1995 Edo Tokyo Hakubutsukan, France Belgian tour triumphal return Live Yuukari CATV Hall Mini Live Fukushima Taiko Festival Taiko Festival, Atami Fireworks Festival Suzuka Circuit
1996 Fukushima Taiko Festival Opening for World Three Greatest Tenors, TV Fuji Mori to Mizuumi no Festival, Lake Towada, Aomori Taiko Matsuri, Minami Izu
1997 Club Chitta Live, Kawasaki Shibuya La Mama Live OTAIKO Hibike '97, Fukui Taiko Matsuri Daikyosai, Taiko no Sato, Akita Hiroshima World Piece Conference
1998 TV CM, Nescafe Gold Blend Wadaiko, Lecture and Peformance for Foreigners in Tokyo - Invitation to Tokyo's Beauty - Edo Tokyo Hakubutsukan Fireworks Festival, Itabashi Minowa Taiko Matsuri, Nagano World Cultural Decoration Reception, Takamatsumiyahai
1999 Wajima Taiko Festival TEPCO 10000 people concert, Nemuri oh, Ryogoku Kokugikan　　 　* Atagawa Matsuri, every July
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■1989 Nov - Dec Belgian Concert Tour
■1991 Nov - Dec South France Concert Tour
■1994 June Paris, France "Ennichi Fukei" '94 Paris Nov - Dec South France and Belgian Concert Tour
■1995 October 50 Anniversary of Indonesia Independence "Japan Indonesia Friendship Festival" Nov - Dec France Concert Tour
■1996 July Indonesia Performance October New Orleans, USA, Performance Oct - Nov France, Belgian, Germany Concert Tour
■1997 March France, Belgian Concert Tour June France, Belgian Concert Tour July Indonesia Performance Oct - Nov France, Belgian, Holland Concert Tour
■1998 June France, Denmark Concert Tour (World Cup Event) July Indonesia Performance Nov - Dec Washington DC National Museum Edo Exhibition
■1999 Nov - Dec France Concert Tour January Washington DC National Museum Edo Exhibition

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Souke Seido Kobayashi's family still owns the Sukeroku Seimen noodle shop in Hongo, Tokyo, which was named after the main character in the famous kabuki story "Sukeroku Yukari Edo Zakura". Sukeroku Taiko was also named after this same character. The second owner of the shop, late Seiko Kobayashi, created the Sukeroku solo performing style, as well as became the first chairman of Sukeroku preservation Organization.
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Oedo Sukeroku Taiko's drumming form symbolizes the Edo spirit by combining the technique of striking with the entire body, studied choreography and form, while moving with powerful elegance. The foldable diagonal stand and the portable stand used for the big drum (both patented) were both created with research into human engineering and proper angle. Therefore, taiko performance using these stands is called sukeroku style.

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Bon Taiko Oedo Sukeroku Taiko was founded in 1959, to pass down the traditional Bon-daiko taiko style of Tokyo's Yushima Area. Then, after studying basic drumming technique under Sasazo Kineya, and after much practice and polishing, Seido Kobayashi formed Oedo Sukeroku Taiko, first ensemble consisting solely of Japanese drums in Tokyo. To honor the shrine and preserve the tradition, he dedicated the group to the Yushima Tenjin shrine. Since the establishment of Oedo Sukeroku Taiko, the style has spread throughout Japan and overseas.
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