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Frederik L. Schodt

Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan--and Japan to the West Hardcover – December 4, 2012

by Frederik L. Schodt (Author)

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"Frederik L. Schodt has at long last unveiled the fascinating story of 'Professor Risley.' Circus scholars, history buffs, and anyone with an ounce of curiosity should be grateful to him."—Dominique Jando, Circopedia.org

"Professor" Risley (Richard Risley Carlisle) introduced the Western circus to Japan in 1864. Three years later, this former acrobat gave many in the West their first glimpse of Japan when he took his "Imperial Japanese Troupe" of acrobats and jugglers on a triumphant tour of North America and Europe. Over the next few years, the Troupe performed before presidents, monarchs, and ordinary citizens. Frederik L. Schodt argues compellingly that such early popular entertainments helped stir a curiosity about all things Japanese that eventually led to japonisme, The Mikado, and, in our time, the boom in manga and anime.

Schodt's depiction of Risley and his troupe is enlivened by portraits of the circus demimonde and supported by nineteenth-century photographs, posters, and drawings, many in color. His accounts of these first meetings between Westerners and Japanese shed new light on how different cultures meet, mingle, and influence each other. Descriptions of crowds, dazzling routines, and superstar troupe performers like the famous Little All Right are a delightful revelation to anyone interested in Asia, the circus, and popular entertainment.

Frederik L. Schodt has authored numerous books about Japan, including Manga! Manga! and Native American in the Land of the Shogun. In 2009 for his work he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

Print length

336 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Stone Bridge Press
Publication date

December 4, 2012
Dimensions

6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1611720095
ISBN-13

978-1611720099
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"There have been some intriguing biographies of seminal Japanese cultural figures in recent years….Schodt’s work on the audacious and brilliant Professor Risley takes its place among these fine works." – Kyoto Journal, Dec. 2014

"[A] fascinating narrative . . . In chronicling Risley's checkered and colorful career, Schodt illuminates the rivalries and precariousness of the circus business and portrays vividly this early encounter between Japan and the West." (Recommended for all readers). —Choice, April 2013

"An intriguing look at international relations, culture, the circus, and its effects on the modern day, 'Professor Risley' is a must for anyone seeking an original and offbeat take on history, highly recommended."—Midwest Book Review

"Pick up Schodt's latest book and move well beyond a study of Japanese culture. Schodt takes us all around the world of 19th-century entertainment: the competition, the disdain, the copycats and the triumphs. It's a captivating story about a pioneer in international entertainment."—The Japan Times

"If you have any interest in Japanese history -- whatsoever -- pick up this book. Schodt knocked this title out of the park. It's a real page-turner, and that's saying a lot when dealing with a history book."— Japanator blog

"There have been some intriguing biographies of seminal Japanese cultural figures in recent years….Schodt’s work on the audacious and brilliant Professor Risley takes its place among these fine works." – Kyoto Journal, Dec. 2014

"[A] fascinating narrative . . . In chronicling Risley's checkered and colorful career, Schodt illuminates the rivalries and precariousness of the circus business and portrays vividly this early encounter between Japan and the West." (Recommended for all readers). ―Choice, April 2013

"An intriguing look at international relations, culture, the circus, and its effects on the modern day, 'Professor Risley' is a must for anyone seeking an original and offbeat take on history, highly recommended."―Midwest Book Review

"Pick up Schodt's latest book and move well beyond a study of Japanese culture. Schodt takes us all around the world of 19th-century entertainment: the competition, the disdain, the copycats and the triumphs. It's a captivating story about a pioneer in international entertainment."―The Japan Times

"If you have any interest in Japanese history -- whatsoever -- pick up this book. Schodt knocked this title out of the park. It's a real page-turner, and that's saying a lot when dealing with a history book."― Japanator blog

About the Author

Frederik L. Schodt: Frederik L. Schodt is a translator and author of numerous books about Japan, including The Astro-Boy Essays, Dreamland Japan, Native American in the Land of the Shogun, and The Four Immigrants Manga. He often served as Osamu Tezuka’s English interpreter. In 2009 he received the The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette for his contribution to the introduction and promotion of Japanese contemporary popular culture.

Frederik L. Schodt is an award-winning author of multiple books on the interplay of Japanese and American culture, with an emphasis on popular culture and on unique individuals who have made unusual cross-cultural contributions.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stone Bridge Press (December 4, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1611720095
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1611720099
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #946,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #102 in Circus Performing Arts
- #1,407 in Emigration & Immigration Studies (Books)
- #1,629 in Japanese History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
11 ratings

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David

Lively, smart entertainment

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2017

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Starring a globe-trotting, Victorian show business adventurer, this is a story of East meeting West, and of America meeting and challenging the world. Richard Risley Carlisle, known professionally as “Professor Risley”, was a bona fide show business superstar in the 1800’s. As a professional acrobat, Risley performed an act that would still astound and entertain today. His physical prowess, daring and showmanship brought him the acclaim of the public, and his artistry earned him the esteem of the well-mannered upper crust.

A great story by itself, but, for me, the real fun of the book is in the story of how he brought a troupe of Japanese acrobats, jugglers and magicians to America and Europe, at a time when Japan had been in self-imposed isolation from the world for over 200 years. The historical facts of the story—the physical hardships of travel, the often cutthroat business practices, the racism of the public—make a fascinating backdrop to a tale of entertainment celebrity that often felt eerily familiar. One could easily imagine the troupe’s star acrobat, Hamaikari Umekichi (dubbed “Little All Right” by the American press) as a YouTube sensation today. This is the kind of historical book I really love—a fun, little-known story that puts history in a different perspective. Mr. Schodt has done a terrific job of turning a meticulously researched story into an entertaining—and thought provoking—tale.

One person found this helpful

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FHG

Risley Rocks...

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2013

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...and Schodt rocks too! This book will enchant you beyond belief. It's the kind of book you need to tumble across, because you would never look for it since it would never occur to you that such a story is out there. Late 1900s: an American acrobat/businessman/crook decides that it is time for San Franciscans to be exposed to Japanese acrobatics....and unleashes a world-wide fad for Japanese circus, creates global celebrities, wins it all, loses it all...where is the Hollywood movie??? Schodt really has an unusual gift for telling a meticulously researched piece of forgotten history in a jargon-free narrative that is funny, enlightening, and leaves you to crave for more. Highly recommended, for anyone interested in Japan's early encounters with the West, the West's early encounters with Japan, the history of American pop-culture, or just about anyone interested in a darn good read!

2 people found this helpful

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User #17

Historical connections abound

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2013

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Who would have thought that a troupe of circus performers could shape history. Schodt's book traces the many interconnected facets of Japanese culture and their effect on Western popular entertainment. Interesting stuff.

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Rita Takahashi

Mint service and book

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2019

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Packaged perfectly, and book accurately described

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Ash Brown

An engaging look at 19th-century popular culture

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2013

Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan--and Japan to the West was written by Frederik L. Schodt and published by Stone Bridge Press in 2012. It is Schodt's seventh book dealing with Japanese culture and history. I am primarily familiar with Schodt's work as a manga and anime scholar and translator, but as can be seen with Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe and several of his other books, his knowledge and interests extend to other subject areas as well. I first learned about Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe because I follow Schodt's work in general. I was interested in reading the book for that reason, but also because I happen to have an interest in Japanese history as well as in the performing arts.

After a brief preface explaining how he came to write the book, Schodt launches into the main text of Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe. The first chapter, or "act," is appropriately titled "Setting the Stage" and provides the necessary background and historical context for the book. The next three acts--"The Risley Act," "Going for Gold," and "Into Asia"--explore the life of Professor Risley, the stage name of American showman Richard Risley Carlisle. Acts five through nine--"Yokohama, Japan," "Taking America," "At the Exposition," "The Long Way to London," and "The Matter of the Contract"--follow the formation of the Imperial Japanese Troupe and their nearly two-and-a- half-year tour of seven countries: the United States, France, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal. Act ten, "Final Acts" traces the end of Professor Risley and the troupe and their lasting influence. The book is completed with an afterword, notes, select bibliography, and a thorough index.

In 1866, the eighteen men, women, and youths from the Sumidagawa, Matsui, and Hamaikari preforming families who would make up Risley's Imperial Japanese Troupe received the first official passports granted to ordinary Japanese citizens. Since the mid-17th century, the Japanese government had severely limited travel into and out of Japan. The opening of Japan helped to ignite an interest in Japanese art and culture across the world. A large part of the Imperial Japanese Troupe's success was due not only to the members' skill but to the perceived exoticism of their performances. For the first time the world at wide was being introduced to Japanese culture. At the same time, ordinary Japanese were finally allowed and able to see the world beyond their own country. The tour of the Imperial Japanese Troupe was a meeting, meshing, and clashing of cultures. And while the group was away, Japan itself was undergoing a revolution as the Meiji era was ushered in.

Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe was absolutely fascinating. Additionally, Schodt's writing is an utter delight to read. Although Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe has been thoroughly researched and has an academic bent to it, the book is still easily accessible and approachable even for more casual readers. One of the things that I particularly loved about Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe is that it is filled with reproductions of historical photographs, artwork, newspaper clippings, playbills, advertisements, and so on, including sixteen pages in full color. They are a fabulous addition to an already great book. I enjoyed Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe immensely. It's an incredibly engaging work on 19th-century popular culture and very easy to recommend.

4 people found this helpful

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Amazon カスタマー

Everything OK book is in good shape

Reviewed in Japan on November 22, 2015

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Everything OK. book is in good shape.

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