1900s

1900 January – Okabe family of “Japanese wonders” arrive in Britain

1900 17 January – S. Akimoto and his wife arrive in Southampton on the St Louis, from New York. He was recorded as 29 years old and an artiste, with his wife 24 in cabin class, along with 5 single male artists – S Mori, 20, Asankitchi 32, J Hirukawa 27, J Nishi 25, Y Hamao 33, Y Itsukawa 28, Y Hironishi 36 and two boys H Daikichi aged 11 and H Mara aged 7

1900 February 1 – the City of New York arrives in Southampton from New York, with a 28 year old single male, Deguchi (no given name), a 28 year old single male Alaka Daguchi,  24 year old single male Takata Awata, 26 year old single male Yurishe Kabs in steerage and 35 year old single male Kura Hanci and five children, Omoisan Kagi (11, female), Riota Deguchi (12, male), Joto Deguchi (11, male) , Matsura Masa (11, male), Hatseu Ohaiui (4, female), Yamara Deguchi (male, 10) – in 2nd Cabin. All were classified as artists.

1900 April – November Paris Exposition Universelle – Japan is a participating nation and Japanese acrobats perform

Japanese acrobat – James Moore Preston, Paris Exposition 1900

1900 December – The Fukushima Troupe appear at the Alhambra, London

1901 February – Lukushima Troupe in Britain

1901 March – Nishihama- Matzui Troupe appear in London

1901 March 31 census:

Thomas Condo and his children Coma Condo and Una Condo staying at a boarding house in Sunderland.

Mitsukichi Ando and his wife and children staying in Leeds with Frank Kamitaro 27, Kodaysi Kichi 45, Jins Sadakichi 19.

Sukeguro Matsui, Boarder aged 34, staying with Usaburo Nishihama aged 36, theatrical artiste, Chiyo his wife aged 30, Ichi his son aged 25, Jonosuke Aoyama aged 23, boarding in London

Seishu Watanabe aged 34, Kikuzo Satto aged 21, Yesuki Fukushima 17, Tatsu Fukushima aged 21 (female), Soichi Fukushima 13, Shikazo Sano 33. All music hall artists, single, living in 5 Archer Street, West Hartlepool – they were performing at the Gaiety Theatre there. Fukushima Troupe

Arthur King Tarro aged 35, a Temperance Hotel Keeper, living with Lily Eugenie his wife aged 32, their daughter Madeline E aged 11 and daughter Phyllis aged 5. In Manchester.

Keitchie Yasso, a painter, aged 45, living at 4 Green Lane, Walsall with Emma, charwoman, daughters Elizabeth, laundress aged 20, Mary, laundress aged 15.

Comatro Mitsuta patient at University College Hospital, actor. Therese Mitsuta, 39 year old music hall artist, married, born in Germany living at 32 Coin Street London, with Louisa Mitsuta, daughter, 16 year old music hall artist born in Japan, Maud, 13 year old music hall artist born in Japan and son Kuma, 11 year old music hall artist, born in Japan. Actually these were Louisa, Maud and Kuma Murakami who were all born in the UK.

Tatoize Mitsala, boarder, single, 54, professional acrobat and Coomie Shinto aged 9, born in London, in Seaford Road, Tottenham

Otake aged 50 is staying with her fifth daughter Winifred and her husband to be Frederick and their child Lucy, with her children Tannaker, Lancelot and Osui in Tottenham.

Fudekichi (69) and Julia (50) are Japanese bag makers, in Brighton

1901 April – Maruichi Sentarō performs for the Japan Society with members of the Nishihama and Fukushima troupes.

1901 September – Arthur King Tarro dies, aged 36, in Manchester

1902 April – Chiyokichis Wonders at the Royal Aquarium

1902 – Anglo-Japanese Alliance signed

1902 November – Yamamoto et Koyoshi at Palace Music Hall, London

1903 March – Kiyoshi Hata of Okabe troupe dies of meningitis in Norwich.

1903 May – Kioto starts performing in Britain – variously described as a gymnast, speciality artiste, contortionist, equilibrist, acrobat, hand balancer, Japanese youth.

1903-6 Okura‘s son Kishichiro studies at Cambridge University, races at Brooklands

1903 November – Arsakusa Troupe arrive in Britain

1904 – February – start of the Russo-Japanese War over Manchuria and Korea.

1904 March -The Royal Tokio Troupe appear in Britain

1904 – April-December – Louisiana Purchase Exhibition/St Louis World Fair – St Louis Missouri – 80 Japanese actors and actresses give performances at the Japanese Theatre.

1904 August – Ten Ichi and Ten Kotsu appear in London

1905 April – Togo a Japanese juggler, showed himself to be as capable as his namesake – Hippodrome, Yarmouth

1905 August Aliens Act – entry to Britain could be denied if a person

  • cannot show that he has in his possession … the means of decently supporting himself and his dependents;
  • is a lunatic or an idiot or owing to any disease of infirmity liable to become a charge upon the public rates;
  • has been sentenced in a foreign country for a crime, not being an offense of a political character; or
  • is subject to an expulsion order under this act which has [already] been made.

1905 August – Morimura and Princess Miako appear in London

1905 August – Arayama‘s Japanese Company appear in Liverpool

1905 – September – end of the Russo-Japanese War, Japan forcing Russia to abandon expansionist policies in East Asia.

1905 October – Riogoku Troupe arrive in Britain

1905 – The Japanese–British alliance was renewed and expanded. Official diplomatic relations were upgraded, with ambassadors being exchanged for the first time.

1907 January – John Kondo Fudekichi dies aged 76 in Brighton

1907 February – Ten-ji troupe of Japanese magicians appear at the Liverpool Olympia

1907 April – The Great Banzai Troupe of Japanese Equilibrists Directo from Japan – Wales

1907 August – Yo San Troupe of Real Japanese appear at Hastings

1908 – Japan-British Society founded in Japan

1908 March – The Miyako Troupe appear in Britain