Taiko is a Japanese word that means, literally, 'big drum'. Traditionally used in village festivals and for religious purposes, it has, in the past 50 years, found new popularity as an ensemble instrument and many groups have formed throughout Japan. This popularity has spread to North America where many sansei (third generation Japanese/North American) have taken it up as a means of exploring their heritage, creating, in the process, a new form of artistic expression. Uzume Taiko was formed in Vancouver in 1988 as Canada's first professional taiko group.