Juggling, rope walking (Giro)
1904 March – June Royal Tokio Troupe of Japanese jugglers in Britain
1904 August in Britain
1905 January – May in Britain
1905 August – 1906 March in Britain
1907 January Royal Tokio Exeter Theatre – A MARVELLOUS TURN. Clever Japanese Artistes at Exeter Theatre.
The attraction of attractions last night—as it will be all this week —was the performance the Royal Tokio Troupe of Japanese artistes. Conventional phrases of commendation are altogether inadequate for the Japs. Most people have, at one time or another, seen Japanese jugglers and acrobats and admired their sure deftness, their clean-cut tricks. But none we have seen approach the Royal Troupe now at our Exeter Theatre. They have absolutely no nerves, or are all nerve—have it which way you like. They perform the most daring feats with utmost unconcern. Imagine a ladder; another hanging at right angles to it, and a third at right angles to that, parallel of course with the first. One of Japs lies down and balances it his feet. This is no small balancing feat; but is only the beginning. A youth climbs these ladders and actually stands on the very top, far away up by the ceiling. The really marvellous part, of the performance is that the Japanese are so cool, so easy, so deft, in short, that spectators hardly realise the risk run until it is all over.
The finale of the performance is equally sensational in its way, although it appears quite ordinary until one thinks about it. A rope is stretched an angle, of course, from the stage to the roof, some distance behind the central lamp. Up this inclined plane one of the Japs walks, gripping the rope with his toes. That is sufficiently wonderful, but having reached the top, he just glides down gracefully, standing erect!! The house simply rocked with applause as he made his bow at the finish.
If the Royal Tokio Troupe does not fill the Theatre every night this week, nothing will.
1906 May-June, August-December in Britain “real Japanese”
“The most notable alteration being the inclusion of the Tokio Troupe Japanese performers, a quintette of clever jugglers and balancing artistes. Their feats are really remarkable, and while the minor features of their “turn” are clever and requiring great skill, two exhibitions of balancing powers are daring in the extreme. In the first of these a ladder, the construction of which is best described ” zig-zag,” is steadied the feet one of the older members of the troupe, and a youngster successfully negotiates a difficult ascent and descent, performing tricks both ways. The closing feat, however, eclipses anything that has been seen in Aberdeen for daring and verve. One of the Japs walks up a slack rope stretched from the stage to the gallery, and having accomplished this, in itself a difficult journey, slides backwards down the rope at a terrific speed, with only Japanese umbrella keep him in his dangerous flight over the heads of the audience” Aberdeen Press and Journal 23 July 1907
1907 September – The Royal Tokios are exceptionally talented acrobats, their smart performance including some clever top-spinning and balancing on ladders; whilst as a finale one of the troupe walks up a tight rope between the stage and the gallery, and slides back again backwards (Eastbourne)
1909 April-June United Anglo-Japanese Variety Company – Lukushimas + Royal Tokios
1910 April – Headed by Tokio Kondo
1910 April – Royal Tokio Troupe of Japanese entertainers, with Bostock’s Circus, in Aberdeen “whose fearless and daring exploits will astonish the audience. This wonderful troupe was for many years the favourite entertainers of the Emperor of Japan and has since appeared by special command in front of nearly all the crowned heads of Europe. “
October 1910 touring Britain
1911 May & October in Britain
1913 March in Britain
1916 February in Britain
1917 July in Britain
Ninjin 