Maruichi was one of the famous daikagura guilds, based in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. They moved from Atsuta Shrine (in Nagoya) to Tokyo during the Edo period. The shinto priests at Atsuta Shrine were said to be originally from Tsu city in Mie Prefecture, 85km south west of Nagoya.
Maruichi was the “stage name” of the troupe meaning “circle one” and the logo of the troupe is a circle with the horizontal stroke meaning “one” through it. It can also be seen as the hiragana character for “tsu”, recalling their roots in Tsu city.
Kagami and Masukagami were used as family names of the Maruichi troupe.
1817 Masukagami Isokichi born
1843 Omoto, possible daughter of Isokichi, born in Edo
1846-7 Masukagami Katsuyo, Kosen performing Osaka Namba Shrine / Osaka Nishiyokobori
1850-2 Isokichi, Kosen, Katsuyo, Haruji performing in Namba, Osaka
1854-5 Katsuyo, Kosen, Sentaro in Asakusa
1856-7 Katsuyo, Koshin, Sentaro performing
On the bottom left: Tayu Tamamoto Koito, Wakadayu Masukagami Koshin, Wakadayu Masukagami Sentaro, Wakadayu Tamamoto Chiyo, Tayu Masukagami Katsuyo/Original Kinuito Watari caretaker Hanamata Kamejiro, Tayu Masukagami Kosen/Kuchigami 50ji. Kotaro Gomi, Tokiwazu group, Nagauta Hayashi group, Dogu Isokichi.”
Great Acrobatics Tayu Tamamoto Koito, Wakadayu Masukagami Sentaro/Zamoto Masukagami Katsuyo”.
At the bottom left of the title is “Tayumoto Masukagami Kosen.”
Hojo, Woodblock printing , Gyokusukiga≫ (“Takee Kanjo Paintings” 47/“Special Exhibition Related Materials Collection Catalog ” 37 pages 1-42 )
1858 (or 1859) Kagami Sentarō the 10th born, biological son of Kagami Gonnoshin (Shiromaru Hajime 白丸一/ 鏡味権之進), the 9th head of Maruichi Daikagura school, along with 大丸（菊田靱負）(Kikuta Tsuneyuki)
1864 Omoto travels to France with Frederik Blekman
1867 March – Masukagami Isokichi organises and is leader of the Lenton & Smith section of the Great Dragon Troupe which toured Hong Kong, Philippines, Java, Singapore, Penang and Calcutta. Isokichi was only given a passport for a month. Omoto recorded as daughter of Masukagami Isokichi, from Shōgorō House.
1867 June – Ese Kitche no kawee – Japanese Sampson in the combined Great Dragon Troupe in San Francisco
1867 December – Eso Kitchie and the Great Dragon Troupe (Lenton & Smith section) arrive in Australia. Omoto said to be his daughter.
1868 January – Isokichi “was for 20 years director of the Dragon Company in Yeddo. All communications with the others pass through him, and it is by him that the performances are arranged, and the duties of each performer apportioned.” The Argus, Melbourne, 17 January 1868 p 6
1869 February – Lenton & Smith Great Dragon Troupe tour of Australasia ends.
1869 March 9th – Lenton & Smith troupe leave Sydney for Shanghai on Huntly Castle – Eso Vitchie (Isokichi), Che O. Vitchie (Chiyokichi), Metaro, Sagero, Cho Nos Kee, Beenyero (Bungero), Yas Kee, Emato, Ohatsue, Cuts-Who-Gero, Gingero, P. Kirby.
1869 September – Isokichi is reported to be helping Phil Kirby arrange a further troupe
“The late company is distributed in all parts of Japan, but our stately old friend, Eso Kitchie, has given Kirby much assistance : he does not do any show business now, and has retired into quiet life
1869 October – Isokichi, aged 52, from Yokohama, is on the employment records for Thomas King’s Royal Tycoon’s Private Troupe who tour Hong Kong and then India, then Germany and then Britain.
1869/1870 – Kagami Godayū named in photograph of Great Dragon Troupe.
1870 July – Isokichi and Thomas King’s Royal Tycoon’s Private Troupe arrive in Britain.
1870 November – Isojirō, Isokichi’s brother has 1 year passport for troupe for Shanghai. Frederick Page, the employer states 10 people to go to China, Europe, Australia.
1870 Passport records Isojiro 磯次郎 aged 30, with Sei, 20 (daughter? wife?), 鶴吉？age?, Chiyokichi 千代吉 17, Toramatsu 寅松 37, Gennosuke 源之助 28、Toyomatsu 芳松 12, Umekichi 梅吉 8, Koman? 小万 6 to tour Shanghai, China, Australia, Europe.
under employ of a British man Frederick Page, for China, Europe, Australia.
1871 January – Isojirō and nine other performers depart Japan for Shanghai
1871 January – Eso Kitchee billed as “The Royal Tycoon’s Private Top Spinner” in Ashton
1871 February – Eso Kitchee billed as “the inimitable comic Japanese juggler and equilibrist” and Oh Ra To as the Royal Tycoon’s Private Top Spinner in Brighouse
1871 March – April Eso Kitchee the inimitable Japanese juggler. No mention of Oh Ra To. Manchester, Sheffield.
1871 April census – Great Dragon Troupe/combined with Tannaker – Luton lodging house group included Kagami Godayou (Godayū) aged 27, Kagami Katzoungoro, aged 45,
1871 May/June – Royal Tycoon’s Private Troupe finish tour of Britain, start tour of Europe and the USA. Isokichi travels with them or returns to Japan
1871 September Isakitchi arrived in Yokohama on P&O Steamer Madras from Hong Kong with Messrs Morris, Jackson and Fornaos
1871 September – Eso Kitchee in Arnhem with Royal Tycoon’s Private Troupe
1871 December – birth of son between Omoto and Godayū
1872 March – Royal Tycoon Troupe of Japanese Juveniles in Britain (Possibly Isojirō’s troupe)
1872 May – Matsui Yoshigorō of the Royal Tycoon’s Private troupe asks King and Isokichi in France for the return fares for himself and 3 others but no money forthcoming.
1872 July – Great Siamese Dragon Troupe in Brighton – “Eso Kitchee” “with his great juggling act”
1872 August – Shimizu Seijirō 48, Shimizu Fujisaku 51, Shimizu Fukutarō 13, Shimizu Chomatsu (Chiyomatsu) 9, Shimizu Anzō 31, Kagami Kichigorō 35, Kagami Otokichi 13, Kagami Harukichi 12 leave Japan for Hong Kong, Manila, San Francisco, Singapore, Malaysia, Zanzibar, Australia, Java
1873 Great Dragon Troupe in South Africa with E So Kitchie Tokedo Wah hobe, Ole Match. Gen os ka, Tara nos ka.
1873 December – birth of Minnie/Omeni Godayou between Omoto and Godayu, in Manchester.
1878 September – birth of daughter Ohana (using Kagami family name) in Denmark between Kagami Omoto and Godayu – adopted by a Danish family a year or so later.
1879 May M.K. Godayou (Maruichi Kagami?) manager of the Godayou troupe writes to the New York Clipper from Genoa that the troupe is desirous of returning to America. Were 14 thirteen years ago, now four, including Tommykitchi, formerly Little Allright and Miss Omoto and Little Jack Allright, 6 years old. Also a stage servant and a little Japanese girl.
1880 birth of daughter of Godayu and Omoto – Take Kagami in Denmark
1882 birth of daughter of Godayu and Omoto – Kame Kagami in Italy
1883 Kagami Sentaro in Italy with Chiarini circus – then Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Manila, Thailand for two years
1884 Daikagura Maruichi commissioned to perform for the Swedish Crown Prince at the temporary imperial palace
1887 Kagami Sentarō assumed leadership of the Kagami house. Occasionally wore Western outfits while performing.
1890 July – Godayou’s Troupe performing in Paris
1891 November arrives in Australia with Godayū and daughters on the RMS Coptic.
1891 December – to Hobart from Plymouth via Cap Town, Mr & Mrs Godayou “family of 4” and Mr Sadee Kitchie
1891 December – First appearance of Godayou’s Tokio troupe at the Gaiety, Melbourne
1893 January – Great Godayou Troupe at Bondi Aquarium Theatre – Minnie Godayou, Komi Godayou, Omato Kagami, Kawai Tomoi, Kati Talo, Matz Goro, Kawai Sada, Kagami Godayou.
1896 Kagami Rokuzo, later Kosen born of Kagami Sentarō
1897 May – Kagami Sentaro departs Yokohama for London –
1897 July T. Mitsuta announces that Kagami Sentarro, cleverest juggler in Japan is arriving on 25th July. He is amazed by the street lights. Then tours Paris, Germany, Italy and returns to London.
1898 March – Sentarro and Mizuhara, jugglers and equilibrists Britain
1898 April – Sentarro, juggler; M. Gintarro, top spinner
1899 April – advertisement – Marnichi Brothers, Sentarro and Gintarro, Japanese jugglers. 73 Coburg Street Leeds
1899 May – the Tokio Marnichis in Burnley with Hamilton’s Excursions
1899 May – Maruichi Brothers in Sheffield with Royal English Circus, Sentarro and Gintarro, real native Japanese jugglers and top spinners
1899 November – Glasgow Zoo – a couple of Japanese jugglers who display uncommon skill in their art.
1899 October – Leeds – Little Allright and M. Ando. Ando Mitsukichi with Kagami Sentaro and Seto Shikazo according to Kurata.
1900 March – Keten Club – Matsui Gensui, Fukushimas, Nishihamas, Kagami Sentaro
1900 April – Mariuchi Brothers, Japanese Jugglers at Camberwell Palace of Varieties
1900 June – Maruichi Brothers, court jugglers and top spinners, assisted by Sano, Japanese feet equilibrist – advertisement in The Era
1900 November – Maruichi Brothers – capital juggling and equilibristic act with Sano on silver wire.
The Japs seem to have a native bent for juggling, and Maruichi Brothers give an extremely clever act, in which, inter alia, one of them sets a heavy tub a-spinning at a great pace, and then balances it high in the air. The same performer shows prodigious power of wrist in the manipulation of a heavy stick of about the size of a quarter-staff. (Music Hall and Theatre Review, December 1900)
1900 December – Kagami Godayu dies in Australia
1901 April – Maruichi Sentarō performs for the Japan Society with members of the Nishihama and Fukushima troupes.
1901 August – Kagami Sentaro departs Germany
1901 August 30 – Mr S Kagami departs London on NYK Shinano Maru
1901 October – Kagami Sentaro arrives in Yokohama
1913 Kagami Sentaro went to Australia and New Zealand
1913 March – Miss Yu and Mr R Kagami, Mrs K Murakami arrived Sydney from Yokohama
1913 April – go to Melbourne Mrs Hisa Murakami, 30, married, Miss Yu Kagami, 14, single, Mr Rokuyo Kagami, 18, single.
1913 May – 1914 February – juggling feats including with knives- Kosen Maruichi and Yu Maruichi (brother and sister – children of the court juggler) in Australia with Tokio Town – other acts including Miss Murakami walking on a ladder of swords.
1916 Omoto dies in Australia
1916 Kagami Sentarō went to USA
1939 Kagami Sentarō the 10th dies
https://juggling.blog.shinobi.jp/materials/%E9%9B%91%E9%8C%B2%E5%A4%AA%E7%A5%9E%E6%A5%BD
Ninjin 