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Masaichi Takahashi

Masaichi Takahashi

Posted: 10 Sep 2006 4:34PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Takahashi
I am trying to find out more about my grandfather, Masaichi Takahashi, who was working with Circus Orlando-Strassburger, Malmoe, Sweden when he died of pneumonia in Uppsala aged 50 in 1938. I have a press cutting which is a death announcement placed by the circus, and including the names Y. Akimoto, Mrs M Akimoto & children and H. Takahashi.

Re: Masaichi Takahashi

Posted: 13 Jul 2008 2:33PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hello,

My name is rita a GERRARD, I live in Lancashire, England and am researching a family by the name of Akimoto who lived in England from about 1900, the initials of the Akimoto family you gave from the circus announcement look as if they could be Mrs Marguerite Akimoto,her husband Yujiro Akimot. They married in Leicester in 1924 and Marguerite Akimoto and one named child Masao Akimoto born 1925 in Leicester are on the New York Passenger List departed from Genoa, Italy and arrival date 1 April 1940 to New York. Their Profession is Artist. I am hoping to make a link to this family to another Akimoto family in Lancaster District, Lancashire where Sankichi Akimoto died 8 May 1905 age 25 years and is buried in our local cemetery. He was a Japanese Equilibrist and whilst I still have to find a notice in the local papers of the time, feel he would have been performing in Morecambe which was then a very popular seaside resort either at a visiting circus, or possibly in a theatre.

Do you know anything more about the Circus Orlando-Strassbuger or the name Akimoto.

With many thanks.

rita a GERRARD

Apart from the

Re: Masaichi Takahashi

Posted: 14 Jul 2008 7:42AM GMT
Classification: Death
Surnames: Takahashi
I haven't found out any more, but if you want to send me your e-mail address I'll send you some more files - e.g. photos of funeral.
Attachments:

Re: Masaichi Takahashi

Posted: 14 Jul 2008 12:28PM GMT
Classification: Query
Rita
I have been trying to send you 3 files - although my e-mail programme said there was a server error, they appear to have been sent - can you let me know?

Re: Masaichi Takahashi

Posted: 14 Jul 2008 1:05PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hello Chris,

Thank you,

The first few only sent the Death Certificate,but the last one all three.

The last photo of the funeral cortege looks very interesting as the people immediately behind the coffin look as if the lady is European, the man is Japanese and the young boy visible looks to be mixed European and Japanese.It looks as if this could be Marguerite,Yujiro and a son.

Do you know if the Swedish paper still exists or if there are archives, and do you know anymore about the Circus, I have tried searching for it but nothing comes up yet.

Many thanks, and I will let you know if I find more on your Grandfather.

Best wishes for now.

rita a GERRARD

Re: Masaichi Takahashi

Posted: 14 Jul 2008 1:40PM GMT
Classification: Query
Sorry you got multiple e-mails; google mail was saying that there was a server error and the message wasn't sent.
I don't know if my grandmother was at the funeral - she would have been in her early 40s. The only son they had was my late Uncle edward who'd have been 13.
I must admit I hadn't thought much about who was there; I'll have a look at the originals, and enlist the help of my mother to see if we can spot any of our family to help you identify possibles for you.

Re: Masaichi Takahashi and Akimoto

Posted: 15 Jul 2008 11:15AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi again,

this is a bit long, but please read, particularly the later item about Mr Black see **********

I went to the local library yesterday and looked up the local papers for Morecambe in 1905, my Akimoto died in May and found a mention of him being a performer at the Alhambra Palace in Morecambe during Easter Week about 2 weeks before his death.

The Japanese arcobats, jugglers, tighrope walkers were part of a troupe called "Ando's Happy Little Japs". In an article about the show the Ando's Troupe were described as being "direct from the Kabukiza Theatre, Tokio [checked out Kabukiza on google - lots of stuff, but not quite sure what circus acts have to do with Kabuki] however Kabuki performers are all male - now, and usually hereditary.

Look up Richard Risley Circus for useful info on how Japanese performers were allowed to go abroad for the first time. also another good one - A witness to History/Rekihaku118 this is another website.

The troup also perfomed later that year in September in Preston - this information came from an online news article from Burnley Express Monday 14h July 2008, wherein a time capsule had been discovered under an old school foundation stone.

The time capsule mentioned a performance By Ando's troupe during 1905 - the troupe was described as "the only troupe that ever appeared befor the Royal Family of Japan at the celebration of the Chrysantheums Show at Kogimachi, Tokyo on September 9 1897.

*****NOW another really interesting bit which is where your grandfather might come in.

In another online article from WWW.bedfordtoday a Mr Fred Black, who had been born Fritz adolf Schwarz inJuly 1917 in the the village of Botnang, near Stuttgart died July 2008.

Fred's father died and his mother gave him up for adoption when he was ten by the the Andos, a Japanese family who were then part of Sarrazanays Circus. Fred traveled with them all over the place including England and Scotland but in 1939 when WW2 broke out they were in Europe, so the troupe moved to England, Fred then changed his name, met his wife in Scotland who was also adopted by the Andos.

So it looks as if your grandfather and my Akimotos were all part of the Andos Troupe and maybe also 'adopted' by them.

Am trying hard now to find more.

Hopes this is interesting and more important, may be of use.

Best wishes for now,

rita

Re: Masaichi Takahashi and Akimoto

Posted: 15 Jul 2008 12:06PM GMT
Classification: Query
thanks, interesting - family legend has it that my grandfather "ran away from home to join the circus" which would fit with your theory.

Re: Masaichi Takahashi

Posted: 28 Aug 2008 7:17PM GMT
Classification: Query
I have a photograph of Sankichi Akimoto's tombstone. He is buried in the churchyard behind my house in Morecambe.

It also has a memorial reference to his father Rikimatsu Akimoto

Re: Masaichi Takahashi

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 2:55PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Masaichi Takahashi
Hello

My Name is Andreas, i am living in Austria. Marguerite and Yujiro are the grandmother and grandfather of my wife Denise.
The Son on the Picture must be Masao, born on 13.Jan 1925.
Please can you send me the Picture per eMail to
kernstock@onstage.at
We also know some members of the Takahashi-Familiy. They live in Antwerp/Belgum. If you want too we can give you the contacts.

Many Thanks and best regards

Andreas



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