The First Japanese Acrobats in Norwich - 1868

The first record of a Japanese troupe of acrobats in Norwich was on the 25^th August 1868. They performed at a fete held by Robert Harvey, MP for Thetford’s fete at his house, Crown Point Hall (now Whitlingham Hall), in Trowse, Norwich.

Who this troupe were remains a mystery. Three troupes of Japanese acrobats had already visited Britain in 1867, the year after the ban on overseas travel by Japanese was lifted. The Matsui Gensui troupe performed in London in February 1867, before leaving for Paris in July. The Great Dragon troupe toured Dublin, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle from August to October 1867, then departed for the Continent. Professor Risley’s Imperial Troupe arrived from the USA in December 1867 and by the summer of 1868 were in Spain.  

Not much information is given about the Whitlingham troupe’s performance, other than it involved the butterfly trick, and that they were accompanied by Chang the Chinese Giant and an Indian juggler. It is possible that they were the Japanese who had appeared at Sanger’s circus in the West Country in July and early August, and then appeared in Hastings a week after the Whitlingham fete. Sanger’s circus had been touring with a troupe of Japanese from March to June 1867 and then from May to September 1868, but gave no description of the acts that they performed or who they were.

D’Alvini (the stage name of a British man, William Peppercorn), who later billed himself “Jap of Japs” claimed to have travelled to Japan with Sanger’s Circus in the 1860s and to have recruited some Japanese jugglers to tour the United States and Europe. There is no record of Sanger’s Circus having been in Japan, however.

D’Alvini had started performing in Britain in December 1866 as “Pio Watkini, Japanese juggler” and then as Der Hang, a Japanese top spinner and performer of butterfly tricks, just around the time the Matsui Gensui Troupe left Britain for France, through to the beginning of 1868. There is no mention of Der Hang again until January 1869. It is likely, therefore, that he, and maybe some of the Matsui Gensui troupe (who by the summer of 1868 had been deserted in France by their manager William Grant) were the “Japanese troupe” appearing both at Whitlingham fete and with Sanger’s Circus from May to September 1868.

Tannaker Buhicrosan’s Royal Tycoon Troupe

Possible photo of Tannaker Buhicrosan and Otake, Otomi and Mitsuko. Collection of Robert L Sayers

A fourth Japanese troupe appeared in Britain at the end of 1868 – Tannaker Buhicrosan’s Royal Tycoon Troupe. The strangely named Tannaker Buhicrosan was probably a Liverpudlian, William Neville, who had brought a small troupe of Japanese people to Britain, after a year touring Australia, New Zealand and India. The troupe consisted of three Japanese women, his wife Otake (aged 19), Mitsuko (aged 20) and Otomi (aged 16) and two men – Tanaka Tsurukichi and Tanaka Hikonosuke.

D’Alvini substituted for Tannaker as Derhanusyn when Tannaker was “indisposed” in October 1869, and a couple of months later, Tannaker took his troupe to Norwich, and performed at St Andrew’s Hall for two nights. The acts included archery and top spinning from the Japanese men, and the Yeddo Fly Wheel, which was possibly D’Alvini. The butterfly trick was also performed, along with bamboo balancing and brick balancing, concluding with the Temple of Mikado. The Japanese women gave a concert of dancing, music and singing.

Victoria Hall in 1934 when it was the Cinema de Luxe. George Plunkett

Tannaker’s troupe returned to Norwich in May 1873, this time playing at the New Victoria Hall.  The Victoria Hall had started as a department store on St Andrew’s Street in 1831, then was home to the Mechanics’ Institution, The Norwich School of Design, a free Library, a lecture hall and then a music hall from the 1860s. It later became the Theatre De Luxe Cinema in 1910 and was pulled down in 1970 to make way for an extension of the telephone exchange.

Tannaker’s troupe had Tommy the Wolf (probably 13 year old Hasegawa Tomichi), Little All Right (possibly his 4 year old daughter Otani), a Lady Rope and Wire Walker, a tub balancer and a screen and door spinner. When they played at Dix’s Land on the Unthank Road for the People’s Fete in June 1873, the line up named Otake, Omotersan (Omoto, who was probably the lady rope and wire walker), Torrakitchie (Kondo Torakichi), Yasso (Kondo Yasokichi), Otanny, and Godia (Godayū – a juggler and equilibrist and Omoto’s husband.

The Norfolk News gave them two very positive reviews:

“These remarkably clever artists have introduced some changes in their performances since our last visit. The feats of strength and agility which are nightly witnessed in the Victoria Hall, Norwich, are simply astounding. The lady’s performances on the telegraph wire and her ascent of the rope fixed angle of 45 degrees, are of the most extraordinary character. Though, of course, there is much apparent danger attending the execution of most of the feats, they are accomplished in so facile manner as to place the spectator perfectly at his ease. Godison’s balancing tricks, and his performances with the ladder, the screens, and the tubs, with the assistance of “Little All Right ’’ and another of the company, are among the most marvellous triumphs of physical skill. On special evenings during the week the performances have been under distinguished patronage. The stay of the company will extend only over next week. On Saturday and Wednesday these will be day performances.” (7 May 1873)

“During this week Tannaker’s famous Japanese Troupe have been giving entertainments at the new Victoria Hall. The performers appear in their national costume. No more marvellous feats have ever been witnessed in Norwich than these of this clever troupe. The dextrous tricks include some extraordinary juggling, butterfly fanning, &c. In these and other performances, the law of gravitation is apparently set thoroughly at nought. A Japanese lady executes some extraordinary movements upon a slack telegraph wire with a coolness that is astounding, holding a Japanese umbrella over her head with one hand and playing with the indispensable fan the while with the other. The same lady’s rapid ascent and sliding descent of slanting slack rope is another extraordinary feat. It seems a very easy matter for these performers to execute the strangest and most extraordinary tricks juggling, climbing, and posture-making. The feats of agility and strength far surpass those of any body of English acrobats we have ever seen, and must be witnessed to be believed. We advise those of our readers who are admirers of the culture of the physique to pay visit to the entertainment. The manager has kindly invited the children of the Orphans’ Home and other local charities to be present to-day. Next week the entertainment will be under distinguished patronage.” (10^th May 1873)

Carte de Visite of Mr and Mrs Tannaker and Ladies - Robert L Sayers Collection

Tannaker’s Japanese returned to the Victoria Hall five years later, with Tokedo, Tommeysaw, Hitchson-Kingkio, Shoesaukitchie and Cheasiekatchei and Condertorra. Each member of the audience received one article from tables, writing desks, workboxes, tea caddies, trays, vases, cigar cases, antique ornaments, fancy work in Japanese straw, fans, umbrellas and fishing rods.

Tannaker’s troupe’s final appearance in Norwich was in 1882, as Tannaker’s Temple of Japan. They were at the Victoria Hall again and also performed at the Norwich workhouse. The next year, Tannaker began to set up the Japanese Villages that he became famous for.