Japanese Acrobats at Home.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 452, 8 March 1890, Page 6

Japanese Acrobats at Home.

At the close of a pleasant August afternoon in the year 1875 I was lying outstretched on a capacious lounge near a window of my favourite hotel in the hamlet of Tonosawa, which is known to all Americans who have visited Japan as one of the fairest and loveliest summer resorts in that land of beauty. For several days I had been unable to accompany my companions in their rambles among the surrounding hills and valleys, having severely sprained an ankle in an attempt to scale a rocky height, too precipitous to be safely ascended by any but the sure-footed inhabitants of that region. I did not much regret the deprivation of the partial solitude to which I was condemned, for the view which lay before me was so exquisite that I never wearied of its charms. A range of massive cliffs encircled me, at the foot of which a rapid river danced and foamed, the green banks on the nearer side being dotted with snug cottages, in the gardens of which groups of gaily-altit'ed children weremerrily playing while their elders gathered the pro- 1 ducts of the soil or Hung their ingeniously-' contrived fishing nets into the well-stocked stream. Gazing dreamily upon this • picture of rustic industry and enjoyment, 1 felt, as foreigners often feel in this most romantic of Oriental countries, that the influences about me were too fairy-like and magical for cold reality, and that if the scene were suddenly transposed bo a realm of pure enchantment I should scarcely be conscious of scepticism or surprise. Under the sway of this mood, 1 began to conjure a succession of fanciful visions, in the midst of which my attention was attracted to a phenomenon which might well have been taken as the work of a sorcerer’s hand. Before my eyes, at a distance of perhaps fifteen feet, a tiny human figure rose through the air, floated lightly and buoyantly without visible support, swam hither and thither in space apparently propelled by sweeping movements of the arms, and presently inclining in my direction, skimmed swiftly toward me, hovered an instant beyond the window, and then sprang nimbly through the aperture, alighting at my side in a posture of ease and unstudied grace. The illusion, such as it was, vanished with the first words which the quaint little being addressed to me, in bis native tongue.' ‘ I ask the gentleman s pardon,’ he said, kneeling and bowing his head. ‘We thought this room was vacant. I have done great wrong to disturb the gentleman.’ - It was one of JtJie army of youthful acrobats (Karu-wazaVshi) whose marvellous skill and activity excite the admiration of all who witness their agile feats of daring. I had long been familiar with their exhibitions in America and Europe as well as in their own islands, and frequently, proposed to make myself personally acquainted with some of the fraternity, but had been prevented by the pressure of more important occupations. The opportunity that now presented itself was timely and convenient. I had heard that a famous troupe was sojourning in the village, though the fact that it was quartered in my immediate neighbourhood was unknown to me. Since it was so near at hand nothing could be easier than to open friendly commun cations with its leaders. My accident forbade me to busy myself with serious affairs, and I could nob have found a more entertaining employment for my leisure. ‘ You have done nothing wrong,’ I assured my unexpected visitor, ‘ and you are very welcome to a sick man’s chamber. Will you stay with me a while and tell me whether you come from the clouds or from the caves at the top of the mountain ? He laughed as he bowed again, and answered brightly and cheerily, with the instinctive politeness of his race : ‘ It is an honour to be received by the gentleman. I shall go and ask my father’s permission.’ ‘ Do so, my child ; and tell him I would go with you if 1 were not lame.’ ‘The gentleman has been hurt?’ he inquired, rising and looking at my injured limb. -‘.Perhaps I may bring my father; he is very wise in making cures.’ 1 By all means bring him, if lm is willing to come, ‘ I replied, giving slight heed to the surgical suggestion, but well pleased at the prospect of meeting the head of a family of gymnasts under these favourable circumstances.

The little fellow, who could not have been five years old r ran briskly away and returned a few minutes later, this time on his legs and through the door, accompanied by a tall finely .proportioned man, who, after the customary formal salutations, proceeded to inspect my foot with the selfreliant air of an expert in healing. I begged him nob to concern himself about it, but lie insisted,’ and, on removing the v rappings I had roughly devised, declared decisively that it I would favour him by accepting his services lie would undertake to set me free from confinement in forty-eight hours. He spoke with such intelligent confidence of success that I did not hesitate to submit to his treatment, and while in his care I laid the foundation of an intercourse which lasted through the term of my residence in the East and put me in possession ot much information respecting the class of which he and his children were prominent members. Ilosono Kojiro was thirty-two ears of age, and was the ele/cnbli direct descendant

of a celebrated athlete who adopted the vocation of rope dancing, balancing and vaulting in the period when the mighty Taiko, or Hideyoshi, ruled Japan.' He showed me the cherished book of . his pedigree, and proudly asserted that only two ethers of his calling in all the empire could point to so extended a line of acrobatic ancestry. He-believed that a large portion of his skill liad been transmitted from his progenitors, and I have no reason to doubt that the superiority of Japanese gymnasts to all'others is in fact a matter of inheritance, since there are few among them whose professional lineage cannot be trac i back at least a century. His offspring were born, as he had been, and his father before him, with physical peculiarities which made them in a measure exempt from rigorous training, and enabled them to enter upon their public career, even in infancy, without hardship or risk of injury. One of the sons, a sturdy youth of 11, had been attached to a travelling band before the end of his third year. Another, the lad whose aerial flight through the window had been the.origin of my acquaintance with, his people, had bumbled about the stage in the shape*of a compact ball of flesh while yet incapable of walking steadily, or expressing in articulate speech his delight at his own precocious prowess. A third,, still, a baby at his mother’s breast, was held up before me in evidence of the extraordinary flexibility arid Suppleness which the house of Hosono claimed as its birthright. The arms and logs of this atom .of humanity were twisted and braided, and his whole body was rolled tightly together until he wa3 twisted into a living hard knot, without causing him perceptible discomfort or provoking the least murmur of dissatisfaction. His composure was greater than my own, for I cried out that I could nob bear the sight, and protested, against' the continuance of the exhibition.

‘I am sure you would not harm him,’ I said, 4 but it seems as if every joint in his smal frame mast be broken.’ :

‘ Harm him ?’ the father exclaimed, ‘ do you think my wife would let me harm him ? Be kind enough to watch his mouth ; you are looking at the sole of his right foot.’ In truth they were a most affectionate family, and no children could wish for more devoted parental solicitude than was bestowed upon them all. In addition to the three boys there was a daughter eight years old, whose aptitude was not less than that of her b others, and who had.already proved herself their equal in dexterity and courage. She was a model of grace and symmetry, and her father was fond of inviting attention to her muscular strength and power of endurance, though the mother was better pleased to observe the impression she produced by the simplicity and gentleness of her demeanour. It seemed a pity that so pretty and modest a girl should be destined to a life of exhausting labour and perilous exposure, but her ambition had no higher aim, and she was amicably contented with the prospect of sustaining the credit of her name, and the possibility of adding to its reputhtion by the conscientious performance of her arduous duties.

Like most of their order, the Hosono party passed the greater part, of the year in wandering about, the country, returning to their homo in Toldo, the capital, during the coldest winter months. I often visited them ancl the numerous companies of acrobats with whom they were allied, in the quarter of Nyeno. where they mostly congregated. It, gratified me totind that their existence was free from serious cares, and that their occupation was regarded by them as joyous recreation rather than a toil. I never knew a single one of them to show reluctance in executing tasks assigned him. On the contrary, this desire for rapid progress was so eager that their parents or guardians were frequently compelled bo restrain their ardour. The practising grounds were always filled with boys and girls—bhough-bhe number of the latter was comparatively small —from theageof two to eighteen, engaged in every variety of exercise under the direction of finished masters of their arts. Those of less than three years generally confine themselves to turning somersaults, walking on their hands or converting their little figures into revolving hoops or wheels. From that stage they advanced to experiments in balancing on barrels, bamboo poles, articles of furniture, and such other objects as the ingenuity of their teachers might suggest. No effort bo force their inclinations was apparent. Those whose fancy was for rope-dancing were free to follow that pursuit. Those who preferred the bolder and more thrilling exploits of equipose at the extremest points of complicated ladders were hopefully encouraged by the maburer gymnasts, who stood ready at all times to throw themselveson their backs and support the fragile, swaying structures on the upturned soles of their feet.

From the age of eighteen Ivaru-waza-shi are usually competent to undertake the leading business of their calling, and at twenty-five, if ever, they must be qualified to bake command of thoroughly equipped companies. As a rule their habits are regular and temperate, and they often retain their strength and agility unimpaired to an advanced ne.viod of life. They sometimes continue bo perform when long past 60, though it is the custom to retire several years earlier and occupy themselves more particularly with the training of their successors. Their earnings are more than sufficient for their daily needs, and if guarded with reasonable care might enable them to subsist fr ugally withoubconbinuouslabour,after middle age. They are paid at an average of twenty yen, or silver dollars a month ; though popular ‘ stars ’ may at times command much higher wages. My friend Hosono had been entrusted with the responsibilites of management when only 21 years old, and by prudence and thrift he had already acquired what he considered a substantial fortune, amounting to nearly one thousand silver dollars, the interest of which would insure him against want, in whatever part of Japan he might choose to pass his declining years. But there are nob many like him, in this respect, among hisfellows. Improvidence is their notorious characteristic, and so long as their immediate necessities at e satisfied they give little heed to what the future has in store.

During the holidays of each recurring New Year I gave myself the pleasure ot summoning this worthy man with his wife and children to my residence, to assist in a private celebration of the principal Japanese anniversary. The premises were too contracted for the display of his boldest feats, but his ingenuity was always fertile enough to supply a most amusing series of drawingroom entertainments. Every object within his reach was utilised for the diversion of my gusts. His boy 3 would march in procession through the house, without touching the floor or condescending to any of the familiar methods of progression. They would fly from tables to the backs of ebafrs, and thence tp window cornices, picture frames and the tops of open doors, with a lightness and precision that could not have been rivalled by the Hanlons in their best days. The little 5 - year - old would execute dances on the necks of a dozen bottles standing upright. The daughter would beg permission to take an unparalleled liberty, and would then bound from shoulder to shoulder of each gentleman present so airily and daintily that those whom she touched with her nimble feet scarcely felt her weight. Their most surprising achievements were ol too intricate a nature to be intelligently described, but those which afforded the greatest enjoyment were in close resemblance to the luminous pantomimes of our own theatres. In these mute comedies the merry, bright-eyed girl was the heroine, the brothers filling parts nob unlike those of Harlequin and Pantaloon, and the father and mother completing the list of dramatis persona'. All who witnessed these spirited improvisations united in lamenting that the remarkable gifts of the performers could not be developed by cultivation, and submitted to the critical judgment of larger and remoter audiences. ButHosono was not of an adventurous disposition, and could not be persuaded to cross the seas, though more than one tempting proposal was laid before him by American speculators.

When I sailed from Japan, in 1885, these genial and kindly souls came on board the steamer, at the hour of departure, for their final leave-taking. I had grown to regard them with real attachment, and I am sure that none of the farewells which I received were more fervent and sincere then theirs. It was their pleasant fancy tG impress themselves upon my recollection by a c'os : ing display of their athletic powers, and as my ship glided away they disposed themselves in a series of effective groups on the deck of their small boat, and when nearly out of sight, built up an impromptu framework with oars and mast, and clambered, one by one, to the highest point, from which they waved their parting adieux. They were in no danger of being forgotten, in any case, but their simple device was successful in giving them a peculiarly strong and enduring hold upon my memory, for the last token of human sympathy and feeling that came to me from the people of that beautiful country was offered by tho simple and warm-hearted family of Hosono, the Karu-waza-shl E. H. House.