1837 James Marquis Chisholm born in Neilston, near Glasgow, to Daniel Chisholm and Marjory Chisholm (nee McLintock)
1843 William Grant, later manager of Matsui Gensui and then Great Dragon Troupes, born in Glasgow to James Grant, a shoe manufacturer
1861? William Grant moves to Yokohama, Japan
1863 August – Chisholm arrives in Nagasaki, Japan
1865 December – Chisholm performs a concert in Glasgow City Hall and also lectures on his travels.
1865 Chisholm publishes “The Adventures of a Travelling Musician”
1866 March – Chisholm shows Chang the Chinese giant in Glasgow at Merchant’s Hall, Hutcheson St.
1866 December – Chisholm exhibited a number of Japanese curiosities and read an amusing paper entitled “The English from a Japanese Point of View”, introducing selections of Oriental music at the Glasgow Athenaeum, second annual conversazione.
1867 Grant invests in brother’s shoe business in Glasgow
1867 July – Glasgow – Der Hang, the extraordinary Japanese juggler
1867 August & September – Great Dragon Troupe in Glasgow – Fondi Keedjie, Bamboo pole walker. THE JAPANESE “DRAGON” TROUPE. This talented company of Japanese jugglers, acrobats, musicians, and dancers—comprising twenty-four performers—appeared last night in the City Hall before a respectable and highly appreciative audience. The whole of the artistes are wonderfully talented, and altogether the troupe is one of the most accomplished which has visited our city for many years. Some of the performances may really classified with the “ marvellous” and “inimitable.” The “great tub ascension ” is a feat displaying skill and power of nerve which never saw equalled, while the delicate butterfly trick, being performed by the “ inventor,” done to perfection. Of young Torasan’s block tricks, and Godai’s extraordinary umbrella balancing, can only say they must be seen to be understood or appreciated. Tonight’s programme, we understand, will even more effective than that of yesterday evening, as part of the apparatus had not arrived in time, and we can safely say that a more unique, wonderful, and varied entertainment has seldom been provided for our citizens. We, therefore, anticipate a successful season for the troupe during their stay in Glasgow. The auditorium has been effectively and comfortably arranged, under the superintendence the manager of the troupe, Mr Wallace shall, in a future issue, refer detail to the grand entertainment.” Glasgow Evening Post 31 August p 2
Harosan and Little Tommy in a Castle of Tubs act. Transfer from City Hall to Circus in Hope Street. Same line up as in San Francisco, ie Djo shiou ja Mats-noske, Kikou-mats-kee, Sintaro Bungo, Tjoje butterfly trick, O-Shine-san wire ascension.
1870 April & May –Great Dragon Troupe – Glasgow Queens Rooms, then Prince of Wales Theatre, then the City Hall (three years since last appearance) then tour of Scotland to November – William Grant is now proprietor and interpreter “has been resident many years in Japan”
The famous company of jugglers, should be noted, appear only to-night and to-morrow evening, before leaving the city. To witness their performance is treat of no ordinary character; it is a thing indeed be remembered. Jugglery is accomplishment which belongs peculiarly to the far East, and an opportunity seeing it to perfection this country very seldom occurs. Not to detract from the interest of the present entertainment when seen, we will only say of it that many of the feats appear our western eyes almost preternatural. Yet, there is deception in the matter at all, the performance, wonderful as it is, being entirely due to pure skill acquired by long and arduous training.
1870 April – Tannaker’s Royal Tycoon Troupe also appear, at the Queen’s Rooms, Glasgow. Hikonosuke, Tannaker, Tsurukichi, Mitsuko, Otake, Otomi.
1871 January – Great Dragon Troupe in Britain have 5 week engagement with Hengler’s Circus in Glasgow. “The Japanese lady C Tarassan ascended a cord stretched from the ground on the one side of the circle to the roof of the other, the only means of balancing used being an expanded umbrella” then slid back down.
1874 Japan Exhibition of objects of Japanese works of art from the Kyoto exhibition at the Egyptian Halls, Union Street
1875 working as a clerk for the Glasgow Tramway and Bus Company and also as a translator
1876 December convicted and imprisoned for 40 days for defrauding the Glasgow Tramway and Bus Company
1876 Taniguchi Naosada and Masuda Reisaku start studying at Glasgow University, in the care of Lord Kelvin. Christopher Dresser (born in Glasgow) visits Japan.
1876 November & December Tycoon Japanese Troupe in Glasgow Wieland’s, Prince of Wales Theatre. The Royal Crystal Palace Tycoon Japanese Troupe including the original artists Gin Goro Jack, Fousah Ketchey, As Sa Ma Ki, Yama Moto, Moto Ketchie, Como Ketchey. “whose acrobatic and athletic feats caused such a sensation a number of years ago in Glasgow “
1877 November – Tycoon Japanese Troupe in Glasgow
1878 Exchange of 1,150 objects to Glasgow from Japanese government, in exchange for Glaswegian art and artefacts.
1879 January – Scotia Music Hall, Tycoon Japanese Troupe, champion tumblers of the world. 5 in number. Hengler’s Circus.
1879 September – November – Tannaker’s Temple of Japan – Newsome’s Circus, Ingram Street. Tommy the Wolf, Little All Right and 12 other artists. Distribution of Japanese novelties.
1880 January – Royal Tycoon Japanese Troupe in Glasgow – ladder balancing, acrobatic and bamboo manipulations
1881 March – Glasgow, Tycoon Troupe
1882 January – Royal Tycoon Troupe of Japanese – Scotia Music Hall
1883 August – Tannaker’s Troupe at Newsome’s Circus “These dusky performers are very clever”
1883 December – Scotia Music Hall – Tycoon Troupe – balancing, rope walking and tumbling
1884 January – Scotia Music Hall – Royal Tycoon Troupe of Japanese
1884 December – Motto Kitchee and Young Japino in Glasgow. “Original Tycoon Japanese Rope and Wire Walkers”
1886 July – Yokohama Troupe
1886 August – “Suzucki’s Japanese Village, Victoria Halls, West Regent Street – the Greatest Japanese troupe in the world, the 3 Mitsutas.” Japanese artists, bamboo workers, pincushion makers at work” in Glasgow. Roller skating and conjuring, Japanese dancing and tub balancing.
1889 November – Tycoon Troupe of Real Japanese 5 in number at Moss Theatre, Glasgow, Leith with Cooke’s Royal Circus (also as Mikado Troupe) The Royal Tycoon Japanese Troupe of four have some remarkable business, and the youngster who does the pole-climbing seems to have but few bones in his anatomy. Their marvellous native entertainment.
1890 February – Hengler’s Grand Cirque – special engagement of the great and original Japanese marvel Little Allright in his extraordinary feats of equilibrium and slide for life.
1890 May – Hengler’s Cirque – the Wonderful Mitsuta‘s Japanese Troupe
1891 February – Scotia Variety Theatre – Royal Tycoon Japanese Troupe.
1892 July – August – The Condos – Royal Troupe of Japanese – New Olympia
1894 Torakichi’s wife Isabella dies in Glasgow at the age of 45
1896 January – Tycoon Japanese Trio, Newcastle, Glasgow
1900 March – Perhaps most interest is shown in the performance by the Ando Troupe of Japanese jugglers and balancers, whose repertoire is so extensive that they are able to introduce new features each afternoon. Scottish Zoo. Metsumoto performs slide for life and wire walking
1900 September – Exceedingly clever equilibristic performance of the Andos, a talented troupe of Japanese, one of whom did some brisk not to say hot business with a trio of blazing torches, which he tossed round his head. Scottish Zoo
1900 March – The Ando Troupe of Japanese acrobats give what is certainly one of the most exciting and sensational turns ever seen at the Zoo; Little Allright, Matsu-moto, the Gregorys, Ando, Moto, and Ochhano
1902 February – Okabe Family, Troupe of Japanese Artistes, Empire Palace Theatre
1903 January – A Trip to Japan, Empire Palace Theatre, A New and Original Anglo-Japanese musical entertainment. Written by Arthur Branscombe and Herbert Shelley. Music by Maurice Philpotts
1903 April – The Okabe Family are undoubtedly the finest troupe, of Japanese artistes presently appearing on the’ variety stage. Their work is really marvellous. The Zoo Hippodrome.
1904 December – Lukushima Troupe at The Empire
1905 June – Maniwa Japanese troupe (only mention) at the Hippodrome
1905 June – Yamamoto and Koyoshi at the Palace
1905 August – Royal Tokio Troupe – Hippodrome, Japanese equilibrists and oriental entertainers
1905 August – Kioto – Hippodrome
1905 December – Tamamoto, a Japanese, who is the greatest perpendicular rope walker in the world. This will probably be the most sensational display of rope climbing ever seen, which ends with an exciting descent—in fact, Tamatoto may well be described as the Japanese Blondin – The Pavilion
1906 – February – See the Jolly Japs – The Andos Japanese expert entertainers – The Hippodrome
1906 February – The Riogoku troupe of Japanese jugglers and contortionists – The Empire
1906 March – The Lukushimas – Japanese troupe – Hippodrome – perform a vast amount of tricks with amazing dexterity
1907 January – The Lukushimas including Otorasan. Paisley Hippodrome
1907 May – Kioto – Japanese equilibrists, The Hippodrome
1907 October – Royal Tokio Troupe of Japanese performers
1908 March – April – Royal Tokio Japanese jugglers – Hamilton
1908 April – A Japanese juggler named Kyoto forms the chief attraction at the Gaiety this week. He is also a magician of great merit, and his double act should prove acceptable.
1908 September – Ten-Ji at the Empire – an original exhibition of mysticism
1908 October – The Lukushimas
1909 January – Some mystifying conjuring with water by the Ten-Ji troupe of Japanese magicians makes a most entertaining and puzzling act – The Empire
1909 April – The Andos Imperial Troupe – Zoo Hippodrome
1909 November – Royal Tokio troupe of real Japanese performers are artists who are never known to fail in their efforts to please. Paisley Hippodrome
1910 March – Tenka/Denka – reputation second to none as magicians earned on the Continent – Bostock’s Hippodrome in Hamilton and Paisley
1910 August – Andos troupe, The Empire
1910 August – The Royal Tokio troupe – The Pavilion
1910 September – Ideal Home Exhibition St Andrews Hall – featured a Japanese street with real Japanese merchants and dancers
1911 January – Fuji (Fugi) troupe Empire
1911 January – Lukushimas at The Pavilion
1911 May – Yamagatas – Alhambra
1912 January – Ko Ten Ichi troupe of Japanese conjurers – Glasgow Hippodrome
1912 April – Fuji troupe, Paisley Hippodrome
1912 September – The Okabes, from Yokohama. “This company have the distinction of having performed at a special performance for the edification of the late Mikado. They are equilibrists, topspinners, Risley act experts, and head and hand balancers, to say nothing of wonderful feats of contortion.”
1912 October – Tenka Troupe, Pavilion
1913 February – Ko Ten Ichi
1913 June – Yamagata Troupe – Pavilion
1913 July – O’Kabe Family – Pavilion
1913 October – Nikko Japanese Troupe, Henglers Partick Star Palace
1913 December – Yamamoto and Koyoshi, Savoy
1913 December – Zoo Buildings, Glasgow Giro-san‘s troupe of marvellous Japanese equilibrists, balancers, jugglers, slide for life
1914 January – Mizuno Troupe, Savoy Theatre
1914 August – The Futamis, Pavilion
1914 August – The Riogokus, Empress Playhouse
1914 September – The Yamagatas, the Pavilion
1914 September – The Fuji Troupe, Lyceum
1914 October- December – Futami Troupe, Olympia, Pickard’s Seamore. The Japanese have a reputation for smartness and agility, and the Futami Troupe worthily uphold it. With a few poles and a ladder or two they give a novel and clever performance
1914 October – The Japanese magician Takase will mystify with his wonderful tricks, Pavilion.
1914 November – Ten-Ka Troupe, Empire
1914 December – The Yamagata Troupe, Empress Playhouse
1914 December – Hamamura Troupe, Pavilion
1915 January – The Kamakuras, Empire
1915 January – Fuji Troupe, Olympia
1915 April – Great Japanese Exhibition at the Royal Polytechnic Byzantine Gallery SEE OUR ALLIES, THE JAPANESE, ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN AT WORK. OF OVER £3OOO WORTH OF THE RICHEST MERCHANDISE BROUGHT FROM THE LAND THE RISING VISITING THIS BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITION
1915 May – Futami, Pavilion
1915 September – Fuji Family, Pavilion
1915 October – Nikko Troupe, Pavilion
1916 January – The Sakuras, Casino, hand and foot juggling on three ladders by Kono, a lady member of the troupe.
1916 April – The Kamakuras Glasgow
1916 April – The Togos , wonderful Japanese equilibrists, Seamore
1916 May – The Yamagatas, The Empire
1916 September – Yamamoto and Koyoshi, Alhambra
1916 November – December – Yamagata Troupe – Lyceum
1916 November – December- Mizuno Troupe – Hengler’s
1917 January – Nikko Troupe – Prince’s, Springburn
1917 February – Ko Ten Ichi Troupe, Alhambra
1917 March – May – Miyako Troupe, Pavilion
1917 May – July The Lukushima Troupe, Lyceum, Govan. Real Japanese Entertainers in Sensational Feats
1917 May – Tokiwa Troupe, Alhambra
1917 September & November – Shimagata troupe of Japanese acrobats perform wonderful feats at the Empress, where they are having enthusiastic reception. Olympia
1917 August – Mizuno Troupe, Alhambra
1917 September – Motokoshi troupe Empress Playhouse
1917 September – Yamamoto and Koyoshi Alhambra
1917 November – Gintaro – Hengler’s Circus – the world’s greatest Japanese top spinner and juggler
1918 January – Omedeto Troupe of Japanese conjurers, Empress
1918 October – Deguchi troupe, introducing Ju Jiro the modern Japanese conjurer
1919 August – Okayama Troupe Japanese entertainers Pavilion
1919 Kondo with a troupe in Glasgow
1920 February – Kamakura Family, Star Palace
1920 March – Takase – Famous Japanese Conjurer – Queen’s Theatre
1920 April – Fuji Family, Clydebank Pavilion
1920 May De Guchi Troupe of Japanese Entertainers, Empire
1920 June – The Kobes, Clydebank Pavilion
1920 September – Yamayama Troupe of Japanese Wonders, Empire
1921 March – De Guchi Troupe, Clydebank Empire
1921 April – De Guchi Troupe, Empire
1921 June – Yamayama Troupe, Coliseum
1925 February – ROYAL KONDO and Miss HANAKO In their Smart Japanese Specialty Act. King’s
1925 August – Kioto and Rene, Japanese equilibrists, King’s
1927 July – Naojiro imprisoned for 60 days for theft of £200 in Glasgow. Recommended for deportation.
£200 THEFT FROM DANCER. JAP’S AMAZING OFFER: “CAN MY LIFE REPAY?” Glasgow, Saturday. That an actress carried in an attache case her savings of £300 was revealed in Glasgow Sheriff Court, when a Japanese acrobat was charged with the theft of £200 of the money.
The man, Nao Jiro Takeda (40), who said he had burnt most of the stolen money, was staying lodgings in Craignestock Place, Glasgow. There came to reside there a dancer, Miss Dessie Desmond. She had with her attache-case containing over £300, and had not been long in the house before she found that £30 was missing from her case, and shortly afterwards a further £170 also vanished.
When taxed with the theft, the Japanese denied all knowledge of the missing money, and expressed great sorrow to Miss Desmond about her loss.
Then came the discovery of £90 lying the floor of the hall outside Miss Desmond’s room door. Hie police were informed, and, on Takeda confessing later that he was the thief, he was arrested.
Missing Ten Pound Notes.
Miss Desmond, who comes from Nottingham, but has played for six years in Glasgow, told a “Sunday Post” representative that she never suspected Takeda, and was quite deceived by his perfect manners, and the sympathy he displayed.
” A few days after I came to the house, I was rather annoyed to find that Takeda seemed to be watching closely. Every time I left the house, I saw him looking at me from his window.
” The first time I noticed anything wrong was one night the week-end after I had been working at the theatre. I had just put my takings into attache-case along with the other money I had saved, and when I opened my bag to take note of cash I found that three ten-pound notes were missing.
” I was worried at the time, but I did not say anything about it, as I thought that I might have made some mistake in making up my accounts. A few days later I got the biggest shock of life —£170 was missing. “
“Even then I did not believe that Takeda was the thief. He said that it was a great loss to have, and was very kind. My landlady was not so sure about the man, and said loudly for Takeda’s benefit, ‘ If the person that, took the money returns it, the police won’t need to be called in.’ ” Takeda did not say anything to this. Then one day my landlady came to me and showed me bundle of notes that she had found in the hall near my door.
Dramatic Confession.
” I knew for certain that Takeda had taken my money, and I went to the police and reported the matter. They came later to the house, and went away.
As soon as they had gone, Takeda came to me in my room. He was in state of great excitement, and falling on his knees in front of me he said, ‘Oh, Miss Desmond, I did take the money. Can life repay you ?’ He told me that he had been gambling, and that he had burnt some of the money. He really was genuinely sorry for what had done, and I would have taken no action against him if I could have helped it, but it was too late.” Takeda, who is at present unemployed, replied to the charge, ” I confess everything.” He is a married man with two children. His wife is believed to be British. Sentence of sixty days’ imprisonment was imposed. Accused was also recommended for deportation. (Sunday Post, 17 July 1927 p 5)
1930 July – The Andos, Pavilion Theatre
1931 April – The Kiraku Brothers, two clever Japanese acrobats, at the Metropole
1931 June – Kondo and Hanako, Pavilion
“Tokyo 1961” in Glasgow
The Japanese production, “Tokyo 1961” made its European bow at the King’s, Glasgow, on December 17. There is much that is pleasant in this 80-strong company from the Nichigeki Theatre in Tokyo.
Presented by S. A. Gorlinsky, it has colour, Japanese dancing, and several novelties, the most outstanding being a “Speed Maniacs” scene where Hidetoshi Nohmi and Shunki Fujimura motor in a miniature speed-car against a moving back- projection background of passing traffic and hairpin bends.
“Sakura,” a scene where the entire background is covered with cherry blossoms and lanterns, makes an eye-catching item. The two Nakano Brothers offer some fairly slick tap-dancing, while the Kagami Family are deft jugglers, one of the trio balancing a spinning plate and two knives on his tongue. A Japanese version of “Swan Lake,” a Tokyo Street scene, and a Hawaiian sequence are other highlights.
Mitsuke Sawamura, Misao Kamijo and Yoshiaki Takei are the principals. Mr. Takei is a good- looking singer who has reached the top ten as a recording artist in his own country. Always, there are the dancing girls, neat and dainty and forming colourful lines as they move around the stage and out on to the illuminated ramp.
A Toho production, it is produced by Kousuke Ito and directed by Masahi Hidaka. Plans are to move it in to the London Coliseum after the Christmas season as a twice-nightly attraction in Glasgow.
The Stage, 22 December 1960 p 17
Ninjin 