The *Jacabals
The who!? Well I guess you are wondering what or who is a “Jacabal”. Well before I answer that question do you like Samurai movies? Yes Good! Do you like Japanese style Sword Fighting? Yes? Good! Now lastly do you like comedy? Well great! The Jacabals is a traditional sword fighting (Kenjutsu) combat troop. Unfortunately there is not too much information about them online in English that is…if you know Japanese well then you’re in luck! The information I found was in Japanese (sad face) and no matter how hard I try I can’t seem to learn Japanese besides anything that is said constantly in Anime…Yes…I know. But for those of you who know Japanese I will give you guys all of the information I have gathered about this awesome group near the end of this page along with some great videos and of course pictures of them at this years (2015) Animazement in Raleigh North Carolina. As I stated earlier the *Jacabals is a Japanese stage combat group that actually creates stories and screenplays based on Japanese historical facts. In additional to creating these screenplays sticking to traditional and historical Japan they are very intricate and detailed in doing so all the way to their Hakama’s and have been featured in many Japanese films and shows. They are regulars at Animazement and they came back again for this year’s Animazement. This year they hosted three panels all of them were full of con go-er to see their Amazing skills live! One of the panels they hosted are panel on how to wear the traditional Japanese apparel that they wear and were known to be warn by samurai’s, all of which took years to master. Below are the videos of this panel hosted by the *Jacabal’s (Yes, there is a translator…and tons of laughs)
Again I don’t have too much information about them personally but I do have the members names! The members of *The Jacabals are Ryo Shigezumi, Jigoraoh, Kazuma Takeo, and Jyunya Tabata. Andddd……like everyone in the world it seems they have a Facebook Page go like them here! Their main website link seems to be broken at the moment but it’s here! Now I bet your wondering or saying “Well that’s fine but where’s the video of the sword fighting I must see sword fighting”…Well guess what?! Yup Fuji has you covered!
*Music is provided by Sho Asano, and Taishi Yamabe so find out more information about these two and to watch a video of their concert please check it out below.
*Here is also a picture I wanted to include the Jacabals thought it was hilarious that I could juggle holding a drink, a cell phone a camera, and food while taking this picture.
Not the best picture but it was great talking to these guys.
Sho Asano and Taishi Yamabe
If you saw the Jacabals fighting video you were prbobly thinking oh my goodness this music I feel like I’m watching an episode of Tenchi Muyo! The music from the *Jacabals video is provided by Sho Asano and Taishi Yamabe, two native Japanese men who have mastered their arts. Sho Asano is a Shamisen player and is the youngest winner ever of the Class A (another source said class D, either way very impressive) Tsugaru Shamisen National contest that he won at the age 8 (yes 8). But if you watched the video its no wonder! His talent is something to behold, amazing is an understatement for how he plays the Shamisen, an instrument that is known to be mastered by very few. Born in 1990, this 25 year old has accomplished a lot including having his own CD of his Shamisen music produced by Victor Entertainment and performed in a concert with Sayuri Ishikawa a very popular traditional Japanese singers at the NHK. Taishi Yamabe is the Takio drum player. Once again I have run into a few road blocks in finding information about Taishi Yamabe but if you know Japanese you will find about about his tour dates and more about him (probably it’s in Japanese so I can’t guarantee it) here, and like everyone else in the world he also has a Facebook fan page full of information his Facebook page. And now what you have been waiting for. Their Concert before the *Jacabal’s performance enjoy.
Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival
The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival is the one day event in Washington DC that is apart of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The National Cherry Bloom Festival ran from March 20th to April 12th this year. According to the main website for the Sakura Matsuri it is the largest one day celebration of the Japanese culture in the US From seeing the huge amount of people from the moment I got off the metro walking towards the festival and I am definitely inclined to believe it. Tickets this year were $10 at the door until 3:00 PM and then the price is reduced to $5. A friend of mine (and DC native) and I went to the Sakura Matsuri this year and believe it or not it was both our first time and it was amazing. Lets into the fun stuff. Some of you reading may have children and wondering what can my children do there especially with all of these people around well I’ve got you covered. At the Sakura Matsuri they have a section called the “kids corner”. In the kids corner they had multiple hands-on fun activities for children that included origami, calligraphy, and Sakura painting just to name a few. They had Japanese story telling. Children and adults alike where thoroughly enjoying the storytelling and the colorful way the storytellers presented the stories (including myself). There was also the Doraemon quiz game. Whats Doraemon? That sounds family you maybe telling yourself. Some people may not know about Doraemon other than the random chopped video clips we see online and memes but it is actually a very popular children’s show in Japan that started from a manga. According the Wikipedia the manga was written in 1969 and the Anime started in 1973 and is still running now. As children answer questions they win prizes but never fear in the kids corner there are no losers and everyone leaves with something to remind them of the Sakura Matsuri and the fun they had there. Let me ask you question parents. Do you have a child (or children) who believe that one day they will be the next master chef regardless of how disheveled the kitchen looks afterwards, and there’s more food on them then in the actual pan? Well Chef Tesuo Saito from the NHK Worlds “Dining with Chef” has a solution for you! He was there showing children in the kid’s corner how to make Temari Zushi (sushi) (don’t worry everything was cooked). Rice and meat nothing can be easier than that and now your children can help you make a simple meal without you having to worry about the kitchen and its easy to supervise and not messy at all. Also on the plus side children actually have an excuse to play with their food now who doesn’t want that? Now for the fun part for the adults out there that may be reading. First lets jump into the Hakutsura sake tasking. The Hakutsura sake tasting had a price tag of $30 for 7 tasting of sakes. At first I thought it was a little bit steep it was literally just a tasting of these sakes. Not that I was expecting a carafe but it would have been nice (lol). Then I thought to myself was when and where will I ever get a chance to do that again? A lot of these sakes were imported and almost impossible to find. They then informed me as I was in line that I also give you a Souvenir sake glass. Souvenirs? Well I’m sold. (I’m easy to please) If sake (or souvenirs) isn’t your thing you can also check out the performing arts stages. There were a total of 4 stages in total at the Sakura Matsuri 2 of which were strictly performing arts stages. One of the states had Martial Arts performances and the other for J-Pop performance. There was a total of 9 different performers for the Martial Arts and all of which were different forms and techniques of the different martial arts style native to Japan or used in Japan. The martial arts state was something out of these world and non-stop. On the J-pop performance art stage there were 11 different artist and some of which you were actually able to meet after the show these shows were also amazing the energy in the crowd (whether we understood what they were saying or not) we felt throughout DC. Also on the J-pop stage there was a cosplay fashion show hosted by Anime USA. A convention I have never been too but always wanted to attend. Unfortunately I missed the show. I have to stress that this is a ONE DAY only event and you have to really manage your time and pick and choose what you what to the most. With that being said I would definitely like to see the Sakura Matsuri become a weekend event as oppose to one day. This could alleviate the crowd a little bit because there is a longer timespan to do everything. And last but not least there was of course food venders, I was actually a little bit disappointed however. There were so many venders my friend and my self both agreed said the food wasn’t good for the price and it wasn’t really “Japanese”. Considering that less than a block away there is food if I was really hungry I am at this Japanese street festival and I’m at least expecting some kind of Japanese seasoning, something… anything? Nothing. It was rather disappointing and for $10 for rice and “meat on a stick” (not yakitori, yes I know…) However I do take into account the lines for every food place was out of this world so they were all busy trying to meet the demand and from doing so probably just wasn’t able to keep up season all the food and so forth… All I wanted was Yakitori is that too much to ask for? Lol. Over all I thoroughly enjoyed Sakura Matsuri and it was an experience that I will remember. And although my DC native friend had never gone before hopefully she will go with me again next time. I just recommend eating before you go and prepare yourself for the crowds of people. As you walk in grab a Ramune for a friend who has never opened one before or for you self and enjoy the fun. Lastly some of you may (or may not be wondering) what’s a Japanese festival without cosplay and people dressed in the different styles of the Japanese subculture well once again Fujicakes has you covered with that and pictures will appear in a future post.
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