1875 born in Japan – Chika (possibly Chiba?)
1898 December – Arrived in Britain with the Ando troupe
1900 Frank Kamekichi, conjurer, fined in British court (Harwich) for illegally importing a dog from the Continent
1900 November – Ando troupe, six in number, just returned from Germany. Little Allright the great hand balancer, Arayama/Arayma great wire walker/barrel kicker, F. Kamekichi and Moto, double ladder balancing on foot, Ando and Ohana and Moto, double bamboo balancing on shoulder, Arayma and Ohana posturing act, Ando and Little Allright breakaway ladder, Little Allright slide for life.
1901 April – marries Gertrude Hodgson
1901 April census – is living with the Andos in Leeds as Frank Kamitaro, music hall artiste
1901 October – Kametaro and Funada, Great Japanese Risley acrobats – Lowestoft
1901 November – Kametaro Troupe Hull
1902 August – daughter Ethel Enid born, in Leeds. May have been the “little bamboo flower” to Chung Ling Soo
1902 August – sensational double ladder performance and afterwards appear as Japanese acrobats – Cambridge
1902 September – two Japanese ladder performers, Barrow-in-Furness
1902 becomes stage manager to Chung Ling Soo, an American magician, real name William Ellsworth Robinson.
1903 January – Kametaros are capable entertainers – Poole’s Myriorama, Clifton, Bristol
1906 daughter Olive Fuji Kametaro born in Wigan
1908 son Fukada Samuel Kametaro born in Leeds
1909 goes to Australia with Chung Ling Soo, wife and children.
1915 William M Kametaro born in Leeds
1918 Chung Ling Soo dies from an accident on stage, in a trick where a bullet is fired
1919 daughter Audrey A Kametaro born in Bradford
1921 Living at 78 Tennyson Place, Bradford, painter at Slingsby’s on Preston Street, Fukada Kametaro with wife Gertrude, children Ethel, Olive, Fukada Samuel, William Montague?, Audrey. Father in law Samuel Hodgson, 69, widower. Sister in law Ethel Louise Hodgson, 30, single, cloth shrinker. Edward Frank Hodgson, nephew, 13, Annie Hodgson niece, 12. Olive Robinson visitor.
1922 daughter Ethel Enid Kametaro marries Bernard Farrar, piece examiner in cotton weaving.
1926 wife Gertrude dies at the age of 48
1932 daugther Olive Fuji marries Charles Randall. 1939 he is a shoe operative, heel builder, in Northamptonshire.
1939 Cinema projectionist, Frank Kametaro, living with son Montagu Kametaro, who is also a cinema projectionist. 38 Grove Terrace, Bradford. Head of household Clara Rush, with Rose Green. Crossed out and further entry recording Frank Kamstaro painter and William Kametaro cinema operator at 36 Grove Terrace.
1945 son William is wounded in Europe, serving in 2nd East Yorkshire battalion as a private
1946 Frank Kametaro dies in Menston, Yorkshire, aged 70 – death record has Frank Kametaro otherwise Fukada Kametaro. Admitted from blind home dining hall. 36 Grove Terrace. Cardiovascular degeneration. Master coach painter. Samuel Frank Kametaro his son is informant.
1948 son William awarded a medal, Lt Corporal in Palestine.
1951 son William marries Sheila Liscoe. Lives in London.
1967 – The Stage – “Hartley NELSON HOLT, well-known mentalist and magician, sensed the unusual interest of one specially observant member of his audience on Central Pier, Blackpool, the other day. Indeed, even when he brought his recital of card mysteries to a close this good-looking, elderly lady… seemed loath to leave. “Are you fond of magic?” Nelson addressed her. “Oh very you see I was once a magician’s assistant. Do you remember Chung Ling Soo?” Nelson remembered that fabulous performer in action shortly before he was killed during his bullet-catching routine at Wood Green Empire 49 years ago and said so. “Well I was his Little Bamboo Flower.” the lady surprised him. Nelson was thrilled at the meet ing. Afterwards, for my benefit he recalled that Chung Ling Soo who was really William Ellsworth Robinson, used to introduce his beautiful teenage assistant (Nelson’s newest fan) as his own daughter, though in truth her father was his very able stage-manager Frank Kametaro.”
Ninjin 