Osuwa Daiko was founded by Daihachi Oguchi in 1951 in Nagano Prefecture,[1] who was inspired by his background as a jazz drummer and was interested in expanding the scope of percussion traditions in Japan.

[4] Many of the initial performers in Osuwa Daiko were not professional musicians, and so parts were partitioned out across different drums into simpler rhythms for individuals to play.

[5] One main goals of the group was to transform traditional taiko pieces performed at local festivals and temples into an ensemble format.

[11] In the development of taiko performance in an ensemble format, Osuwa Daiko has been considered one of the dominant, leading groups in Japan.

[12] Specifically, their style of instrumentation, presentation on stage, kata, and repertoire of pieces have largely contributed to how contemporary taiko is understood and practiced.