Uesugi Kenshin
The origin of the "gojinjo-daiko" dates back to 1577 when the warlord Uesugi Kenshin invaded Noto Province. As the local people were unarmed, they resisted by beating war drums and wore ferocious looking devil masks with seaweed and bark on their heads in a bid to scare off their enemies. The low sound of drums associated with the rumbling of the earth and caused Uesugi Kenshin and his soldiers to retreat.