Japanese Drumming Master Killed In Car Accident

Japanese drummer and former jazz star DAIHACHI OGUCHI has been killed after he was hit by a car.

The 84-year-old was crossing the road when he was struck on Thursday (26Jun08). He was rushed to hospital but died from excessive bleeding early on Friday (27Jun08).

Oguchi mastered the art of taiko drumming - drums made from a single hollowed out tree trunk with cowhide covering the top - and led the movement to the U.S. and throughout his native Japan.

He was a co-founder of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, a group that has appeared in several Hollywood films and performed internationally in its 40 years in the showbiz industry.

He also led the performance of dance and drumming at the closing ceremony of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Funeral details have yet to be released to the media.

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