Written & Performed by David Hirata
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 7:30pm
60 minutes | No intermission | Ages 13+

Tickets: $15

Show Description

In 1866, magician Namigoro Sumidagawa became the first Japanese citizen in over 200 years to receive a passport to leave the country. As part of the “Imperial Japanese Troupe,” he dazzled audiences across Victorian America with his exotic stage magic and became a media celebrity. By the time he returned home, his prize trick had been appropriated by American magicians in yellowface and rechristened as “The Jap Box.” A century later, Japanese American magician David Hirata excavates the mysteries and stories of “The Jap Box.” Through monologue and magic, The Jap Box unveils illusions and surprises from the Japanese American story.

Artist Biography

David Hirata is a Bay Area magician and solo performer. He is the creator and performer of Kanji By Starlight & Magical Holiday, which both ran at The Marsh. The Jap Box premiered at the San Diego International Fringe Festival in 2018, where it won the award for “Outstanding World Premiere Production.”