THEY may have a name that few can pronounce, but the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers show has audiences talking long after they've seen the show. We put some questions to the UK's first and only professional touring taiko drumming group.

HOW MANY TAIKO GROUPS ARE THERE?

There are about 10,000 groups in Japan - mostly community groups but with a handful of excellent top-class groups. There are about 100 groups in the USA and about 15 performing groups in Europe - of which Mugenkyo is the only fully professional group.

WHAT ARE THE DRUMS MADE OF?

The nagado drums carved from single tree trunks are made from keyaki - a kind of Japanese elm. The very biggest of the o-daiko (big drum) are made from African Bubinga trees. The okedo barrel drums are made from cedar. The skins are made of cowhide.

DO YOU EVER BREAK A SKIN?

In Japan a Taiko drum is said to last a lifetime. However, this was probably said before the days of professional touring groups. We expect our skins to last between seven and 10 years. When they break we have to send the drums back to Japan to be re-skinned.

WHAT DOES ALL THE SHOUTING MEAN?

We shout "sup", "sore", "ha", "sya" while we play. These don't actually mean anything. These are random shouts (not cues) to let out our "ki" energy and also to shout encouragement to the other players.

DO WOMEN PLAY TAIKO IN JAPAN?

In ancient times women were not allowed to play Taiko because they were considered too polluted to play the sacred instrument. However, this is no longer the case and since the 1950s there has been a huge growth in the number of women playing Taiko.

DO YOU 'AD-LIB' IN YOUR PLAYING?

Yes. We were very fortunate to learn the Hokuriku style, which is one of the few areas in Japan where improvising is part of traditional Taiko. In other areas of the country Taiko is far more rigid. Once we learned the traditional patterns, then we were given permission to mix them around.

WHAT DOES "MUGENKYO" MEAN?

Mugenkyo can be translated as "limitless reverberation" "sound everlasting" "endless rhythm".

WHAT DO JAPANESE AUDIENCES THINK OF MUGENKYO?

We have performed in Japan several times, as well as appearing on television and radio, and it's gone down a storm. Japanese people really appreciate the fact that we take Taiko very seriously.

See the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers at Preston Guild Hall on October 23. For tickets call box office on 01772 258 858.