JAPANISCHE KAMPFHÖRSPIELE (JAKA), a band known for its prolific discography and unique style they call “grindpunk” and “popgrind”, is back with a new album featuring re-recorded versions of 23 classic tracks.
With a mix of humor and reflection, JAKA invites you to explore their extensive discography. The questions were answered by Christof and Anselm.
JAPANISCHE KAMPFHÖRSPIELE (JAKA) is a band with a very rich discography. Have the frequent lineup changes in the band contributed to better or worse quality releases?
Anselm: I am the youngest and most beautiful member JAKA has ever had. I think that every member has contributed to JAKA so far and has made the band what it is now. A band is always a process. Whether it has become worse or better is up to the listeners to decide. Some people like this guitar playing better, others prefer the vocals of one or the other. At the moment, the five of us feel very comfortable and enjoy our time.
Christof: You sure are the youngest member. But above all, you’re our platitude officer. I think our last three albums are our best. Everything before was just practice.
How satisfied are you with the quality of the new album (which actually consists of re-recorded versions of 23 old songs) compared to the previous ones or, say, the work from the band’s early days?
Christof: Over the years, JAKA have developed into an increasingly progressive band, which is mainly due to the possibilities offered by hard disc recording. The last albums are less catchy, more experimental. In the old days, when you honestly recorded on tape, you had to have at least halfway thought of something BEFORE you recorded it. Today, we simply record set pieces, which we then combine wildly and put them in the blender. This results in unpredictable products, even for us. But because we don’t just want to appeal to nerds and weirdos and autistic people, we have re-recorded old hits from the decades when we were still writing real songs. They have become better, not least because of our new, still very fresh shouter Anselm, who outshines all his predecessors in terms of vocal variety.
Anselm: I really like the album. I had a lot of fun recording the songs and adding a new and more modern touch.
Who is JAKA now?
Christof: I’ve been the drummer from the very beginning. Marco, with whom I started making rock music at the age of 15 or 16 and who joined JAKA in 2001, plays bass. Guitarist Robert joined in 2004, left in 2007 and rejoined in 2014. Apart from that, we have two shouters: Martin, who has been with us since 2006, and Anselm, who joined in 2023. It’s possible that Klaus, with whom I founded JAKA as a two-man project in 1998, will be back soon – depending on his Triglyceride levels, among other things.
You come from one of the wealthiest German states. How significant is the difference between western and eastern Germany still today, and do you notice this difference when performing in different regions? Do you find inspiration in that for your lyrics and music?
Christof: Our T-shirt printer Maik and his family recently visited us. Maik and his wife were about 10 years old when the wall came down. We talked a lot about the differences that still exist between East and West Germany. As far as the differences between different regions in Germany are concerned, you don’t just find them between East and West. But people who come to JAKA shows are generally fun to be around.
Are you satisfied with German politics, whether foreign or domestic? Have you ever had problems with Nazi groups at your concerts?
Christof: Once we had to wait before starting our show until the booker had managed to guide a Nazi who had lost his way out of the venue.
Anselm: I think our politics is too slow and too short-sighted. It’s mostly all about profit.
Christof: I think they are too fast and too far-sighted. Far too well planned. Western politics as a whole has been right-wing for many hundreds of years. It is inhumane, exploitative, paternalistic and, yes, profit-orientated. No matter how left-wing and woke Mr Markwald and his 10 devices may pretend to be.
Most of your recent releases have been done for “Bastardized Recordings.” I assume you are satisfied with the collaboration; how is it working with them?
Christof: Label boss Maegges is a good guy. But he suffers from workalism. Maegges, in case you are reading this: please stop working so much!
What is your music taste outside the band?
Anselm: I listen to a lot of atmospheric stuff. Noise, Postrock, Dungeon Synth, Avantgarde and so on. I also listen to grind from time to time but more Scandinavian bands like ROTTEN SOUND. Apart from that I like PIG DESTROYER or AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED. BIRDFLESH, WEEKEND NACHOS.
Christof: I listen to everything: Rock, Pop, Norwegian Black Metal, children’s music, classical music …
You describe yourselves as a grindpunk and/or popgrind band. For those who haven’t heard JAKA yet, can you explain these two terms and whether that music taste influences the creation of your songs?
Anselm: Apart from rock and pop, Christof is also hearing voices. They keep telling him: Everything is possible. Over the years, Robert was okay with the thought that more and more elements of techno and hip hop were added to our music. He is basically only pissed when Christof cuts and re-arranges already recorded riffs.
Do you follow any newer grindcore bands? If so, which ones?
Anselm: I, CURSED from Finland and CHILD from Gothenburg. Both sound a bit like ROTTEN SOUND. Check them out.
Christof: Personally, I think Grind Core and Death Metal have been boring for decades and I don’t want anything to do with it in my spare time. The last good Death Metal albums were recorded in the 90s, shortly after Death Metal was invented. I like Billie Eilish. Apart from that I only listen to old music, only read old books and watch old movies.
Your live performances are intense. You’re well-rehearsed, and that decades-long experience is evident. How do you choose songs for live performances? How long are the sets, given that your songs are short?
Anselm: We mostly play for around 60 or 70 minutes. More is not possible with these old farts. They’re all just not as fit as I am. We generally play what we want to.
Christof: When I was your age, I only lasted 45 minutes. Since I do sports and smoke less weed, I’m in a better shape than you will ever be.
Your LP covers vary from release to release. In my country, we have a saying when something is quite different: “like an ass and an eye.” 🙂 How important is this aspect to you?
Christof: For JAKA nothing is important. The actual band leader is King Coincidence. He decides what ends up in the songs, on the cover and in the whole package.
Can anyone remember what was the first show JAKA ever played?
Christof: Sure. It was in 2003 in Mülheim, Germany. When Anselm was only 11 years old.
Where can people see you live in the future, and how can they order your releases?
Christof: Records, CDs, tapes and devotional objects can always be ordered here:
https://japanischekampfhorspiele.bandcamp.com/ – this ensures that the money gets into the right pockets. Ours. We regularly update our calendar here:
https://www.japanischekampfhoerspiele.de/live.html
TOP 3 German beers?
Anselm: Jever, Störtebecker, Kehrwieder.
Christof: Störtebeker hieß der Mann! Das Bier sicher genau so. Man stürzt es aus Bechern in sich hinein.
Anselm: A minute ago, you asked whether we ever had problems with Nazis. Christof here is a word and education Nazi.
Bernd Obst: Yes. This is the truth.
This is the end. Any message to old and new fans?
Christof: Keep your eyes on https://www.japanischekampfhoerspiele.de/index.html
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