Pop Japan

Held annually, during August 1-4, the Morioka Sansa Odori is all about the beat of a drum, the tune of flutes, and the groove of the dancers. That's where the festival begins and ends. Those three instruments, particularly the taiko versions, will leave a mark in you internally. With their aim of being a great tribute act to certain Japanese folklore, a batch from a years back won a Guiness World Record as the largest taiko drum ensemble.