Even under the best of circumstances, playing the Japanese drum (taiko) demands dexterity, rhythm, and hearing ability. But what if the taiko musician is hearing impaired and can't hear the music? This raises the bar much higher. Surprisingly however, it is not beyond the realm of the possible.

The Koshu Roa Taiko Team is an inspiring example of the near-miraculous achievement of a group of individuals that has reached a musical ability on par with Beethoven, with his well-known hearing disability. The team is made up entirely of the hearing impaired and just completed a successful series of taiko performances at the recent Asian Festival of Inclusive Arts in Cambodia, a forum for disabled musicians and artists.

Founded in 1981, Koshu Roa Taiko is a taiko drumming team in which all the lead performers are hearing impaired. They have been well received all around the world, including their most recent trip abroad to Cambodia, where audiences were deeply impressed with these skillful entertainers' awe-inspiring ability to combine breathtaking sound with highly refined movements.

Members have differing degrees of hearing impairment, so it is not easy for them to play the taiko in sync with each other. However, over time and with intensive training, they have refined their taiko skills to the point where their repertoire is equal to some non-disabled teams. They are definitely one of the best disabled taiko teams in the world.