Origin
Climbing and balancing from long poles dates back to at least 10th century Europe – the Byzantine emperor held entertainments including a 24 foot pole balanced on one acrobat’s forehead, with two children climbing to the top.
The New Year festival, Dezome-shiki in Hamamatsu, Japan, dates back to 1659, where firemen balance on ladders.
Risley’s Imperial Troupe in Le Monde Illustre 26th October 1867 and in the Illustrated Times May 23 1868 at the Lyceum, London
In Britain
1867 June – Risley’s Imperial troupe in New York – Little All Right falls off the ladder. Hamaikari Sadakichi is the lower, Hamaikari Umekichi/Little All Right is the upper
1867 August – Great Dragon Troupe ladder act – Glasgow – Ka-wad-zee Mau Kilche (Kawaji Marukichi from Baldwin & Gilbert section) the most wonderful Double Ladder and Pole Equilibrist.
1867 October – June 1868 Risley’s Imperial Troupe, including ladder act in Britain
1868 January – September – Sagero in Lenton & Smith troupe in Australia – long ladder and heavy tub with Chiyokichi.
1869 May – 1870 November – Great Dragon Troupe with ladder act appear in Britain, performed by Haro-san (Hasegawa Harukichi) and Little Tommy.
1869 June – November – Risley’s troupe re-appear, in Liverpool and Manchester, with triple ladder trick/magic ladder trick and Little All Right.
1870 July – Royal Tycoon Troupe of Japanese – triangular three ladder feat at Crystal Palace
1870 July – Great Dragon Troupe – Scotland – great ladder balancing feat
1870 August – September Namensskie (Naminosuke), great sensational ladder feat, the wonder of the world – Royal Tycoon’s Private Troupe of Japanese at the Alhambra.
1871 February – Australia – Satsuma Troupe, Little All Right, Parting Ladder. Matz Noski tub and ladder man
1871 February – Namenoski billed as rope walker. Britain
1871 March – Namenoski sensational ladder acts, Mo To juvenile wire walker, To Ro Kitchee single bamboo.
1871 July – 1874 Tycoon Dragon Troupe (1873 onwards just “Tannaker’s Japanese troupe”) – 12 year old Little All Right ascends ladder (1871)
1872 January – Royal Tycoon Troupe of Japanese Juveniles in India – Great Ladder and Tub Act
1872 December – Brothers Sorton Japanese aerial ladder act Stockton
1873 January – Mikado troupe in Hong Kong – ladder balancing
1873 May – Tannaker’s Japanese troupe – new feat “broken ladder” Norwich
1873 July – Marshall’s Royal Tycoon Troupe in Jamaica “tree and ladder”
1873 December – Derkaro family, Japanese jugglers, ladder performers
1873 December – Mikado troupe in India with triple ladder act – balanced on the shoulder by Mr Maza.
1874 November – the Leons Japanese ladder. Dundee
1874 November – The Derkaros – young Hara, smallest performer. Only opponents of the Japanese in their wonderful feats of balancing the Japanese ladders on the feet. Japanese Screen with wolf change. Bamboo perch on shoulder.
1875 February – Little All Right, five year old boy (probably Tannaker’s daughter Tani), falls off ladder in Tannaker Great Dragon troupe – severely bruised, broken rib. No further ladder acts until Condo Torra performs
1875 March Asiatic Circus and Tycoon Troupe of Japanese in Australia – Tom Wieland (clown) – bending boys – Itchia, older child Ma Ketchi, falling ladder Decenoski to October 1875.
1876 January – M. Jackley and Little Charlie perform ladder trick at Alexandra Palace – 1877 Rosinsky’s Jackley troupe – The Japanese Ladder
1876 March – Royal Magnet Combination Troupe in South Africa has Japanese performers – slack rope, top spinning, bamboo, ladder and tub balancing.
1876 July – Japanese acrobats, Gingero and Como Ketchy, who displayed some extraordinary acts of balancing with a ladder constructed of bamboo cane, the ladder subsequently dividing itself and leaving a single cane – at Crystal Palace
1876 November – Mr Wieland’s Japanese troupe/Royal Tycoon Troupe in Edinburgh including ladder balancing
1876 December – Tannaker’s Japanese troupe – ladder trick by Condore Torra
1877 February – Derkaro troupe continuing with Japanese ladder
1877 May – Tannaker’s troupe ladder and screen balancing
1877 November – Tannaker’s troupe – ladder with a young girl climbing it
1878 Tannaker’s troupe – ladder tricks of Tommy the Wolf and Little All Right.
1878 February – Alveno troupe of Japanese acrobats and bamboo ladder performers
1879 February – Tannaker’s Japanese – Little Tommy All Right fell 20ft from bamboo ladder in Swindon.
1880 – Tannaker’s troupe continues to include ladder,tub and door balancing
1880 January – Royal Tycoon Japanese Troupe in Glasgow – ladder balancing, acrobatic and bamboo manipulations
1880 June – Great Tycoon Troupe of Real Japanese – Feet Balancing, Bamboo Balancing, Pyramid Building, juggling – Hackney
1881 May – Tycoon Troupe of real Japanese, who gave some astonishing feats of barrel dancing, pyramid banding, bamboo and ladder balancing
1881 October – November – Dublin, return of the Tycoon Troupe of Real Japanese. Walter Brown back advertising – celestial wonder workers, high rope ascending, bamboo and ladder perche balancing, extraordinary acrobats
1882-83 Tannaker’s Japanese included ladder
1884 August Congleton Fete – Motta Keitch (Tamamoto Chiyokichi?) – The Great Japanese Artiste. in his unprecedented feats of Rope and wire Walking, Bamboo and Ladder Balancing, Tub Spinning – with the Lentons.
By the mid-1880s, European/Brazilian acrobats were performing the Japanese ladder in Britain
1887 May – Tannaker’s Japanse village in London – But for dexterity the band of Japanese acrobats are unique, the balancing by Torre and Tommikichi, the latter a small boy who clambers over ladders, tube, and other articles balanced on his feet by the first named,.
1887 December – Tycoon Trio/the Gingero troupe of acrobats at Sanger’s Circus in Cheltenham. The Tycoon Japanese are very skilled in their performance with the flying ladder to 1888
1889 May – Tannaker’s Japanese – PERFORMANCES by Men, Women, and Children MOST ASTONISHING FEATS Tub, Ladder, Pole and Barrel Balancing. Singing, Dancing, and Native Music. Top, Box, Paper and Fire Spinning. Fencing, Single Stick, and Military Exercise. Pongo Gorilla, or Man Monkey. ROPE, WIRE, and BAMBOO WALKING ; and many other Acts – Glastonbury
1889 June – July – Tycoon Japanese being advertised by Messrs Wilder of Birmingham in the Era – rope walkers, acrobats, bamboo perche, ladder act, somersault throwers and jugglers
1889 June – Appearance of THE GINGER TRIO, Japanese Wonders, bamboo perche act, Ladder Act and real Japanese Tumbling Act. Northampton
1890 Fossett’s Circus, York. The performance given by the Bros. Kitchee on the Japanese ladder is a decided novelty. Mons Kitchee’s antics on the high rope are pleasing to witness, and Master Tycoon cleverly manipulates while swinging from side to side at the top a tall bamboo cane, which is balanced the shoulder of his brother. He is clever youngster, and possesses remarkable sang froid. The Tycoon troupe of Japanese give a good performance.
1890 October – Condo and Son. Ladder, tub performers – at Edinburgh Exhibition.
1890 Advertisement in The Era for Godayou’s Japanese Troupe currently in Paris – 4 artists, ladder and perch, top spinning, juggling, feet equilibrists
1891 – Condo and Son Real Japanese Marvellous Feet Balancers – Great Tub Feat, Ladder Balancing, Paper Frame Act, Barrel Kicking by Little Condo, assisted by Okamisan.
1895 Mitsuta troupe include a ladder act.
1898 Mr. Mitsuta’s Japanese Troupe of Equilibrists, who now perform in the Hungarian Theatre, are well worth a visit. ladder balancing. To 1900
1899 November – Ando’s Royal Imperial Japanese Troupe – swinging bamboos, pyramid contortion, ladder, juggling, posturing, top spinning. Matsu Moto just arrived from Japan in his marvellous and daring slide for life. Leeds. 10 months’ engagement ends Dec 23rd
1900 March – Condo with graceful Miss Una on ladder and tubs
1901 March – Nishiama troupe one sided ladder
1901 April – Hartlepool — Fukushima Japanese Troupe, Kyoto contortionist, triple ladder and Risley act.
1902 November – Kametaros in their intrepid ladder act
1903 Akimotos twenty foot ladder – New Empire Theatre, St Helens
1904 October – Takergero and Commie high ladder
1906 October – Tokio Troupe various ladder acts to 1909
1908 June – Yamamoto and Koyoshi, daring ladder act, Birkenhead to 1913
1911 Andos – 6 ladder act
1912 February – The Giro-Sans Troupe of Japanese jugglers and equilibrium are exceptionally clever, and their marvellous performances on a breakaway ladder must be seen to be appreciated. Electric Picturedome, Atherstone.
1912 April – Fuji troupe, 6 members, balancing on ladders
1912 June – Mojis – a couple of artistes – top spinners and three ladder act
1912 July – Banzai family ladder act
1913 October – The Marvellous NIK-KO TROUPE of SIX JAPANESE ARTISTES. The most Sensational, Daring and never Act in Europe, including a Foot Balance of Three Ladders with a Trapeze Act and Head Balance on Top. Risley, with Somersault. Takeuma. To 1914
1913 November – Nine Mizunos – the celebrated troupe of Japanese entertainers. in their brilliant specialities of umbrella fantasy, equilibrists, breakaway ladder, double Risley act
1914 December – Fuji troupe – long rope slide, zig zag ladder. Empire music hall Burnley
1915 February – Futami troupe – daring youngster who climbs a ladder
1915 April – The famous Fuji family are a troupe of the most skilful jugglers and balancers it has been our pleasure to see. On the triple ladder and the balancing pole they simple leave the audience breathless
1915 November – Esa Trio – peculiar shaped ladder to 1919
1915 – 1916 January – The Sakuras, Casino, hand and foot juggling on three ladders by Kono, a lady member of the troupe.
1916 September – Introducing Little O’Tosey Yo-San, the smallest Japanese performer, in her ladder acts. (New Electric Theatre, Boston)
1917 October – Esa Trio Slide for Life, down a rope, also the most sensational feat of balancing three ladders on one foot
1919 November – THE SOGA TRIO, Brilliant Japanese Performers, presenting a Wonderful Balancing and Tumbling Act, including the Sensational Golden Ladder Feat.
1920 Fuji Family of six versatile Japanese entertainers. Their ladder balancing feats
1920 Mizuno Troupe – Risley, hand balancers, breakaway ladder
1921 Soga Trio – golden ladder with foot balance
1925 June – three Japanese Kobes, who were very entertaining in their balancing feats and stunts. The audience were held spellbound while, with the aid of a ladder balanced on one member of the troupe, another proceeded to ascend it.
1925 June – The Otsu Trio Japanese Equilibrists and Jugglers, featuring the wonderful Break-away Ladder. (Forfar)
1926 June – the Otsu troupe of real genuine Japanese has been engaged and appear in an act that has astonished the world. The real Japs are extraordinary equilibrists, and introduce the amazing breakaway ladder act.
1929 April – The Mito Trio – A clever display of equilibrism. Their work includes thrilling performances extending ladders, hand and foot balancing, and other acrobatics
1932 December – Soga and Hirukawa at Olympia, Bertram Mills Circus. ladder, rope sliding
Mito Trio of Japanese acrobats and balancers , who finish with a spectacular ladder performance – to 1940
and the trick continued to be performed through to the 1930s by the Otsu trio.
Also balancing three ladders on the feet by Esa Trio, Jackitschy Troupe and the Masu Hirukawa troupe.
1963 Circus Roland – An unusual number from Japan is the Akimotos ladder balancing speciality, with a swinging lantern act 30 ft high from which Lufong thrills the crowds. The Stage
Ninjin 