Taiko no Tatsujin
video game series
Taiko no Tatsujin (太鼓の達人; lit. 'Master of the Taiko') is a Japanese video game series developed and published by Namco (now Bandai Namco Entertainment). In the games, players simulate playing a taiko drum in rhythm with music. The series has released titles for the arcade as well as for console and mobile platforms, including PlayStation 2, Advanced Pico Beena, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, and Japanese feature phones.
Although the series was primarily developed for the Japanese market, localized versions have also been released in English, Chinese, and Korean.
Gameplay
Objective
The main objective of Taiko no Tatsujin games is to hit a special taiko drum controller, or a virtual equivalent, in rhythm with a selected piece of music. Players must strike the drum in time with the notes that scroll from right to left on the screen.
A song is cleared when the spirit gauge is filled beyond the target by achieving sufficient accuracy by the end of the song.
Controls
Arcade versions of Taiko no Tatsujin are equipped with simulated taiko drums that register hits when struck with drumsticks (bachi).
Console versions primarily use buttons for gameplay, although certain devices support additional input methods:
A virtual taiko drum is available on devices with touchscreens (such as the DS, 3DS, Wii U, iPod Touch, smartphones, and Nintendo Switch), which can be played using either a stylus or fingers.
Dedicated drum peripherals simulating real taiko drums can be purchased separately for the PS2, Wii, Wii U, PS4, and Nintendo Switch versions.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Taiko no Tatsujin” is video game series. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Taiko, Tatsujin and video, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “video game series” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 10, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1198152. 1 of 2 selected statements include explicit references; 2 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
A concise general-reference account can conceal disagreements about scope, terminology or the weight assigned to individual sources. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Taiko no Tatsujin”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Taiko no Tatsujin primary sources, Taiko no Tatsujin archive and Taiko research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Taiko no Tatsujin”?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Taiko no Tatsujin” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.