An Inside Look

Reviews by Nicholas Paul

THE NEW MAGIC OF JAPAN & FIVE TIMES FIVE: JAPAN (RICHARD KAUFMAN)
Here’s the scenario: A baby is left stranded in the jungle. He is taken in by apes
and raised as one of their own. Due to his unfortunate isolation from the rest of human
society, he is forced to adapt and develops traits unique to his plight, such as the
ability to communicate with animals and an almost Olympian-level gymnastic ability
when it comes to climbing trees and swinging from vines. We all know the story of
Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs, in some form or another. Now
what in the world does this have to do with magic?
Well, had he had any human contact as a child, perhaps he’d have turned out
differently. It would be a decidedly different story had he been raised by humans,
whether in England or in the jungle. This is not unlike the story behind the magic that
came out of Japan in the last century. Japanese magicians did not have the luxury of
contact with Westerners for quite some time, at least not until the 1950’s (after the
second World War), and, then, contact was limited. Dai Vernon was really responsible
for the cross-cultural exchange of magic that began in the 60’s. His contact with
Tenkai, Dr. Hiroshi Sawa, and the Tenyo Company acted as a springboard for this
trading of ideas. It was this prolonged period of isolation that made Japanese magic
so unique. They never really had the opportunity to see the flow of ideas that began on
the east coast of the US and worked its way to the west coast. This is evident in the
magic seen in both the books THE NEW MAGIC OF JAPAN & FIVE TIMES FIVE:
JAPAN.
Both books, which sell for $45.00 each, are a conglomeration of ideas and
effects by various Japanese magicians. The effects range from quite easy to “for-
finger-flingers-only” difficult, and from close-up to parlor and stage, using various
props from cards and coins to sponge balls and paper flowers to canes and
production boxes. There really is something for everyone in each book, but their true
beauty lies in the fact that the material contained within is all original. Sure, you’ll find
a hint of Kaps, Vernon, and even Tommy Wonder in both books, but what these
Japanese magicians have done with the basic plots of effects or sleights is
astounding. Several effects, like “Appearing Cane From Fireball”, “Quadruplicate
Spellbound”, “Ambitious Clip”, “New Era Moving Pips”, BoxBack”, “Pieces of the
Future”, “The Mystery of Width”, and “The Appearing Deck” really caught my
attention, in that, not only are they really eye-catching effects, but they are remarkably
ingenious yet easy to do. I recently used both “New Era Moving Pips” and “Pieces of
the Future”, ridiculously inventive and innovative card revelations, with great success
and audience delight.
I cannot recommend both of these books highly enough. What they teach us,
ultimately, is that, sometimes, isolation is good for us; it forces us to be original and
creative, and this is how real magic is made. Perhaps I should take a year or two off
from magic clubs. These books make me want to strand myself on a Polynesian island
and see what I can come up with. Well, they and the weather, at least. My feeling is
that, if you’re going to maroon yourself, do it somewhere sunny. Of course, if I did
that, there’d be nobody to read this. Oh well, I guess only in dreams…

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