Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe
How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan--And Japan to the West
Praise
Winner, in 2013, of the Circus Historical Society's Stuart Thayer Prize, designed to encourage "the highest quality of research, scholarship and writing about American circus history."
An unlikely history of early cross-cultural encounters between the West and Japan, featuring acrobats, jugglers, and a colorful American impresario.
"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
"Fascinating book."--Steven Mansfield, Kyoto Journal 81, Winter, 2014.
"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.--Japan Times
"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
"Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe is the best book I have read on Japanese history. Period. In fact... this is perhaps the best book I have ever read about Japan. --Andrew Joseph, Japan-It's a Wonderful Rife blogsite.
"[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). --ALA Choice, April 2013
"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 (Brad Rice)
"Schodt has put together an astounding collection of 19th century primary source material on this fascinating and hitherto unrecorded facet of circus life to create a book of immense interest… I strongly recommend it to all serious circus scholars.--UK's King Pole Magazine
"Schodt’s book is based on meticulous research and his account of Risley’s life and of Japanese acrobats and entertainers in the US and Europe in the late 1860s will fascinate readers interested in the spread of Japanese popular culture abroad.--Sir Hugh Cortazzi (Japan Society of the U.K. review).
Press Releases, Reports, and Interviews.
- 2012-11-01: Justin’s Japan: Interview with Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics author Frederik L. Schodt" (by Justin Tedaldi).
- 2012-11-24: JETAA- JQ Magazine. "Book Review – ‘Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan—and Japan to the West’", by Jessica Sattelle.
- 2012-11: PDF file --Stone Bridge Press press release and author interview.
- 2014-11-30: "Notes on Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe" in Andrea Horbinski's blog, Cognitive Resonance: The Ironic Imagination.
- 2014-Winter: Kyoto Journal. "Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How and American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan and Japan to the West." Review by Stephen Mansfield.
- 2013-11-17: The Circus Diaries: "'Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe’, by Frederik L. Schodt" by Katharine Kavanagh.
- 2013-09: The Midwest Book Review, California Bookwatch, The World History Shelf. "Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe."
- 2013-09: Journal of Inquiry and Research, 98, pp.89-95. "Le Professeur Risley et les premiers acrobates japonais en France. Compte-rendu de Frederik L. Schodt, Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe. How and American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan – and Japan to the West (Berkeley, 2012)," by Alexis D'Hautcourt.
- 2013-07-25: Nichi Bei. "The Uncommon Commoners," by Tomo Hirai.
- 2013-07 & 08: Bandwagon: The Journal of the Circus Historical Society. "A Book Review: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan--and Japan to the West by Frederik L. Schodt." Reviewed by Herb Ueckert.
- 2013-07: Art Times, No. 10. "Circus Book Review: Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe," by Aya Mihara. ＜三原文先生による日本語書評＞
- 2013-06: King Pole, No. 193, "Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe," reviewed by Don Stacey.
- 2013-05: "Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe," review by Sir Hugh Cortazzi in The Japan Society Review.
- 2013-01-09: Experiments in Manga. "Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan—and Japan to the West," by Ash Brown.
- 2013-02-15: Circus Zeitung, No.2/2013. "Buchen: Professor Risley," by Gisela Winkler (In German).
- 2012-12-09: Japan Times "Globe-trotting acrobat left a mark on Japan," by Kris Kosaka
- 2012-11-10: SchoolGirl Milky Crisis: "Japan Crazy" by Jonathan Clements.
Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan--And Japan to the West was published by the intrepid Stone Bridge Press, of Berkeley, California, in 2013. It won the Stuart Thayer Prize from the Circus Historical Society. It is available for order through finer bookstores (please also ask them to stock it), as well as on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other on-line retailers. It is also available as an ebook on the Amazon Kindle platforms for PC, Macs, and tablets as well as other platforms.
--Back to top--