6 performers – tumbling and balancing. Probably Komakichi Sekiguchi and his family. Komakichi was born in Tokiwa, Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. There was also an American film in 1914 called The Love of Tokiwa.
1910 Komakichi Sekiguchi marries Sarah Jones in Birmingham – may have been with the Banzai troupe
1912 April – Toshio Sekiguchi baptized – Birmingham
1914 July – K Sekiguchi 32, M Sekiguchi (8), S Ono (8) arrive London on Atsuta maru
1916 January – Dublin – Royal Tokiwa Family, Japan’s Greatest Entertainers
1916 February – October 1920 Blackpool, then touring Britain, ending up with Broncho Bill’s Circus. Includes one and only little Japanese comedian. Little Matsu and Masu. Genuine Japanese artistes. “clad in gorgeous native raiment, accomplish most difficult and unique acrobatic feats, full of humour”
1916 July – Tokiwa family at the Palace Theatre Aberdeen, also performing at a hospital for the wounded – this troupe include little Matsu and Matsu, and the one and only original Japanese comedian. They carry their own costumes and appointments.
1916 April – Blackpool – Komakichi Sekiguchi applied to magistrates for license for for Masayarhi 13 and Matsuyu Sekiguchi 12 to perform at Blackpool Tower.
1917 March – K. Tokiwa advertises in The Era
1917 October – The Royal Tokiwa Family, troupe of five clever equilibrists from Japan, head the bill with turn full of thrills. Their splendid balancing and tumbling feats are positively hair raising, while the comical but clever antics of the tiny boys supplies the comedy element in just the right places (Grantham)
1917 December – ROYAL TOKIWA FAMILY. Genuine Japanese Artistes, introducing most sensational feats, including incomparable Little Matsu and Masa, and with gorgeous set of scenery, gold embroidery on satin; also wardrobe. 86, Boston-street, Hulme, Manchester. The Era
1918 January – Royal Tokiwa Family – Japan’s Greatest Entertainers – Jarrow
1918 March – We have come across nothing smarter, and, we might add, cleverer than the Japanese Tokiwa family. Their performance is described in one word, marvellous. Mansfield
1918 June – Hippodrome Liverpool
1918 September – The Tokiwa Family who head the bill are a clever troupe of genuine Japanese entertainers and their show is undoubtedly the real thing. (Halifax)
1918 December – The Royal TOKIWA FAMILY, Genuine Japanese Entertainers – Burnley
1919 January This week, the famous Japanese troupe, the Royal Tokiwa Family, have been delighting and astonishing large audiences at the Hippodrome. With customary Japanese skill in juggling they have been carrying out sensational tricks with their feet and achieved great success with their ladder balancing turns. Runcorn
1919 February – The Royal Tokiwa Family, genuine Japanese entertainers
1919 March – Pontypool
1919 April – Among the many attractions submitted are the ROYAL TOKIWA FAMILY of GENUINE JAPANESE ARTISTES, who are without doubt Japan’s Greatest Entertainers. Their sensational feats are the talk
1919 May – with Broncho Bill’s circus.
1919 June – The Royal Tokiwa Family, who have appeared at all the leading music halls in Britain. These Japanese artistes are acrobats par excellence and alone are worth the admission money. Broughty Ferry Scotland.
1919 July – The Royal Tokiwa Family are a troupe of genuine Japanese entertainers, who perform a series of remarkable feats with an ease and grace that surprises everybody. St Helens
1919 August – Another feature of the show was the Royal Tokiwa family of Japanese artists, who give a diverting, acrobatic performance. Newcastle
To October 1919
1919 November – Komakichi and Sarah Sekiguchi leave for Japan with Toshio 7, Kaoru 5 and Matsuo Sekiguchi 11.
1920 May – back with Broncho Bill, Chester
1920 June – Among the many attractions submitted are THE ROYAL TOKIWA FAMILY Of Genuine Japanese Artistes, the favourite entertainers of the Emperor of Japan, who are without doubt Japan’s Greatest acrobats. Bognor Regis
To October 1920
Ninjin 