SKILL, craft and class were some of the words used to describe the performance of the Japanese band Abeya as they brought their culture to King’s House last Thursday evening.

The Tsugaru-Shamisen concert was under the distinguished patronage of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and his wife Lady Allen, and Ambassador of Japan Yasuo Takase and his wife Sayoko Takase.

The concert was one of the many activities to mark the 2014 celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jamaica-Japanese diplomatic relationships and Japan-Caricom (being celebrated as) Friendship Year.

“In celebrating our golden jubilee, our embassy has organised commemorative events to promote mutual understanding and friendship,” Ambassador Takase told the group of diplomats, government ministers, and guests who gathered in the ballroom at King’s House.

He listed some of the other events as the Japanese Calendar Exhibition, Smart Energy Symposium, Japan Festival, Sushi and Vegetable Arts presentation, Japanese Anime Character Exhibition, Port Call of Japan Maritime Self-Defence Forces Training Squadron, their joint band concert with the Jamaica Defence Force, and the Japanese Animation presentations.

Ambassador Takase said that at the political level, prime ministers of Japan and Jamaica had very cordial and productive meetings in November last year and again in July of this year, thus elevating the relations of both countries to their highest level in 50 years.

As people listened to the one-hour-long presentation of rich folk music and watched creative dancing by the Japanese group, they were transported to a culture that was foreign to many, yet entertaining and relaxing.

The Japanese group blended their culture with Jamaican reggae by doing their rendition of Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry and One Love.

Tehuti Maat, lifestyle consultant and medical nutritionist, was among the invited Jamaicans who enjoyed the performance.

“I like the fact that they tried to fuse their culture with ours because they played No Woman No Cry and One Love. The energy they put into it was very unique,” Maat said. “I also like the style; it reminds me of an Indian instrument called the sitar, and I love that instrument, so this was really reminiscent of that. I also like the style of singing of the female singer, Maya. All around I enjoyed the cultural exchange of just having something fresh and new. It was very relaxing for me.”

Musicologist Tommy Cowan and his singer wife Carlene Davis both had positive reviews of the performance.

“With my understanding of music, watching those finger movements and this culture of playing a song and tuning in between was just so amazing,” Cowan said.

“I loved it!” Davis added. “I love authentic music and I love Japan. I love the culture of Japan. I have been there many, many times – and actually I do have a song with one of the Japanese instruments,” she said.

Abeya, which is a traditional folk music group made up of Hidesaburo Abe and his two sons Kinzaburo and Ginzaburo, Tatsumasa Ando and Maya Nemoto, has performed in over six cities in the United States during America’s 100th anniversary of Japan’s gift of cherry trees in April 2012, while Hidesaburo has performed in over 30 countries.

The atmosphere was filled with Tsugaru Jongara, a set of Japanese folk songs loved by the general Japanese public and which express passion and longing. They then moved into more cheerful tunes with Tatsumasa putting aside his shamisen to dance to Maya’s rich voice using umbrella, fan, cloth and drum sticks called zenidaiko as his props. The group also performed some folk songs in medley.

While most could not understand the Japanese language, the feeling of joy was evident and contagious in the audience which was encouraged to participate by clapping or singing along with the performers.