Japanese Magic Books?

A place where beginners can participate, ask questions, and post their views. However, beginners typically ask a lot of questions about sources, tricks, books, and so on. In fact, all magicians are interested (or should be) in the provenance of tricks, ideas, and related matters. This department will service these needs.
SamWeiss
Posts: 5
Joined: May 25th, 2010, 3:46 pm

Japanese Magic Books?

Postby SamWeiss » May 25th, 2010, 4:17 pm

I posted recently a thread on the Magic Caf here:

Japanese Magic Books?

As the post mentions, I am interested in finding Japanese magic books besides the ones I already have (also mention on the thread).

The reason I brought this over here is because I am hoping there will be more expertise on the subject on this forum. Especially since I was told Mr. Kaufman knows a lot on this particular subject. :grin:

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27056
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 25th, 2010, 4:38 pm

I don't believe any other books have been published on Japanese magic in English other than the ones I've done in the past 30 years. If you look on the right side of the screen, and scroll down, you'll find a phone number for John Greget, who sells used books. He may have a Sawa book. You might also try George Daily: gsdaily (at) comcast.net.

I have published quite a bit of Japanese magic in Genii from Hiro Sakai and Tomo Maeda, as well as some in The Looking Glass.

I will have three more books on Japanese magic coming out: a new book of Japanese close-up magic, a book on Tenkai, and a book on Tomo Maeda's magic. But you'll have to be patient.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Edwin Corrie
Posts: 518
Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby Edwin Corrie » May 25th, 2010, 7:30 pm

There's also the New York Magic Symposium Collection Five, which has a good section on Japanese magic but might not be easy to find. And Takagi's Coin Assembly and Wild Card were also sold as separate manuscripts.

User avatar
John M. Dale
Posts: 299
Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Vancouver, WA

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby John M. Dale » May 25th, 2010, 7:46 pm

Edwin Corrie wrote:There's also the New York Magic Symposium Collection Five, which has a good section on Japanese magic but might not be easy to find.


If you don't mind buying the whole set at this price, New York Magic Symposium Collection Five is in this eBay listing.

JMD

T Baxter
Posts: 149
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby T Baxter » May 25th, 2010, 10:50 pm

When you say "Japanese Magic Books" do you mean magic books about Japanese magic, or magic books written in Japanese?

- T. Baxter

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27056
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 25th, 2010, 10:56 pm

Books in English about Japanese magic.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

SamWeiss
Posts: 5
Joined: May 25th, 2010, 3:46 pm

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby SamWeiss » May 26th, 2010, 3:47 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote: I will have three more books on Japanese magic coming out: a new book of Japanese close-up magic, a book on Tenkai, and a book on Tomo Maeda's magic. But you'll have to be patient.


Great! That's awesome.
---
The New York Magic Symposium book seems very expensive and rare so I'll probably have to pass on that for now. I'll have to keep that in mind everyone, thanks.

I just purchased the Shigeo Takagi book from this site after I made this thread, (took advantage of that 2 for 3 deal) and if it wasn't for that I'd try calling one of those guys about the Sawa book. Again, thank you, I'll keep that in mind too.

By the way, I will also gladly accept any information about Japanese magic books written in Japanese. I just started learning Japanese so any recommendations could help in the future.

Thanks again,
Sam

Edwin Corrie
Posts: 518
Joined: January 18th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby Edwin Corrie » May 26th, 2010, 6:47 pm

It might take a while to get to a level where you can read books in Japanese, but when you do there is always Amazon Japan. A quick search for "magic" (tejina) produces the following:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_ja_JP=%83J%83%5E%83J%83i&url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=%8E%E8%95i

Or you could look for Japanese translations of English books and read them in parallel. Years ago I happened to find The Magic of Pavel in Japanese, but you need quite a good knowledge of the language to even get off the ground. If you ever want to try there is always The Collected Almanac, which is easier to find and includes a copy of the Japanese edition of Vol. 1 No. 1.

SamWeiss
Posts: 5
Joined: May 25th, 2010, 3:46 pm

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby SamWeiss » May 26th, 2010, 7:17 pm

Thank you.

I've also found https://www.frenchdrop.com has a good selection. I just don't know which ones are good because I can't read the language yet.

I know I won't be able to read them for a LONG time, but it's still helpful for the future.

opie
Posts: 501
Joined: March 14th, 2008, 10:43 am
Location: austin tx

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby opie » May 26th, 2010, 10:06 pm

Sam, somebody over at the Cafe recommended Nemoto's TOKYO TRICKERY...I too recommend it to you, since you are interested in Close Up magic....It is a remarkable sleight-of-hand manual and one of the few places you will find an outstanding description (and instruction) of the Oriental Cups/Bowls and Balls routine.
....opie

User avatar
Richard Kaufman
Posts: 27056
Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm
Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand
Location: Washington DC
Contact:

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 26th, 2010, 10:28 pm

You will find a full description of the Japanese version of the Cups and Balls in Shigeo Takagi's book.
Subscribe today to Genii Magazine

Ian Kendall
Posts: 2631
Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby Ian Kendall » May 27th, 2010, 3:08 am

I've been meaning to ask you about that...

SamWeiss
Posts: 5
Joined: May 25th, 2010, 3:46 pm

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby SamWeiss » May 27th, 2010, 8:57 pm

Tokyo Trickery is another one of those rare books I believe... what a shame.

I'll look forward to the Cups and Balls in Shigeo's book. Thank you.

Tom Dobrowolski
Posts: 786
Joined: March 13th, 2008, 9:20 am
Location: Palatine, Illinois
Contact:

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby Tom Dobrowolski » May 28th, 2010, 9:08 am


SamWeiss
Posts: 5
Joined: May 25th, 2010, 3:46 pm

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby SamWeiss » May 29th, 2010, 1:02 pm

Wow! I looked all over the internet and couldn't find it... and what a price!

Thank you

Tom Dobrowolski
Posts: 786
Joined: March 13th, 2008, 9:20 am
Location: Palatine, Illinois
Contact:

Re: Japanese Magic Books?

Postby Tom Dobrowolski » May 30th, 2010, 5:15 pm

No problem.


Return to “Reference Room”