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