Just dumping some links and notes from some initial research I've done:

An already existing pretty extensive guide to do exactly what I'm trying, want to improve it though:

https://www.reddit.com/r/taikonotatsujin/comments/llig53/how_i_made_my_taiko_controller_knockoff_taiko/

GitHub Repo to using an Arduino to ADC basically:

https://github.com/LuiCat/ArduinoTaikoController

Somebody detailing maintenance and the mechanism of the Taiko Force LV5:

https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/taikonohirose/diary/200806040000/

Somebody in Japan who did what I want to do essentially:

https://twitter.com/mybati_kanna/status/1240665866879942656

Picture of the sensor on a custom taiko force:

https://twitter.com/miyaneko1489/status/1214450840263524352/photo/1

Picture of Taiko Force LVL5:

https://www.arcade-projects.com/threads/taiko-no-tatsujin-setup-help.7365/

/u/Limeaway510 suggesting using gum rubber and giving some tips about which rubber to use:

https://www.reddit.com/r/taikonotatsujin/comments/m9q8k5/diy_tatacon_is_coming_along/gsp2846?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

Video with gum rubber:

https://streamable.com/l5gwyg