The Jap Box

Through monologue and magic, Japanese-American magician David Hirata will excavate the mysteries and stories of magician Namigoro Sumidagawa in The Jap Box, making its debut at the Marsh Berkeley this October. In 1866, Sumidagawa became the first Japanese citizen in over 200 years to receive a passport to leave the country. As part of the “Imperil Japanese Troupe,” he dazzled audiences across Victorian America with his exotic stage magic and became a media celebrity. By the time Sumidagawa returned home, his prize trick had been appropriated by American magicians in yellowface and rechristened as the “Jap Box.” Over a century later, Hirata unveils illusions and surprises from this Japanese-American story in his latest solo show, The Jap Box. Postshow talkbacks, featuring experts in everything from history to magic, will be offered throughout the run.