IN THE NEWS
Circus master invited to judge world's best
Kyoko Kawazoe / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
KOBE--Tadashi Kinoshita, the president of a circus founded by his grandfather, is thrilled by the prospect of becoming the first Japanese to serve as a judge in the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.
"My accumulated experience has been favorably regarded," Kinoshita said.
At the festival, to be held in January in Monaco, he will assess the technique and showmanship of the world's top circus artists.
Kinoshita, 60, was formerly a circus performer himself. He joined Kinoshita Circus Co., which was established by his grandfather in 1902, after graduating from Meiji University in 1974 and made his debut as a flying trapeze artist just one month after his first rehearsal.
At the age of 26, Kinoshita broke his neck when he fell during a performance. He says he fell into a deep depression as he underwent three years of rehabilitation, but that the experience taught him to never become complacent and to always appreciate others.
After recovering from the injury, Kinoshita became a salesman for the company. The experience of working behind the scenes remains unforgettable, he said.
Even now, as president, a role he assumed after his elder brother fell ill, Kinoshita can often be seen greeting customers at the entrance to the circus, tearing their tickets and escorting them to their seats.
"The great thing about the circus is seeing challenges met through great displays of courage," Kinoshita said, noting that often, technical proficiency alone is not enough to make a compelling or thrilling spectacle.
He said that at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, his primary focus will be on performances' emotional impact--the true essence of the circus.
"My accumulated experience has been favorably regarded," Kinoshita said.
At the festival, to be held in January in Monaco, he will assess the technique and showmanship of the world's top circus artists.
Kinoshita, 60, was formerly a circus performer himself. He joined Kinoshita Circus Co., which was established by his grandfather in 1902, after graduating from Meiji University in 1974 and made his debut as a flying trapeze artist just one month after his first rehearsal.
At the age of 26, Kinoshita broke his neck when he fell during a performance. He says he fell into a deep depression as he underwent three years of rehabilitation, but that the experience taught him to never become complacent and to always appreciate others.
After recovering from the injury, Kinoshita became a salesman for the company. The experience of working behind the scenes remains unforgettable, he said.
Even now, as president, a role he assumed after his elder brother fell ill, Kinoshita can often be seen greeting customers at the entrance to the circus, tearing their tickets and escorting them to their seats.
"The great thing about the circus is seeing challenges met through great displays of courage," Kinoshita said, noting that often, technical proficiency alone is not enough to make a compelling or thrilling spectacle.
He said that at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, his primary focus will be on performances' emotional impact--the true essence of the circus.
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