Karuwaza, a Risky Business: Japanese acrobats in Victorian Britain

Date
Monday 15 July 2024

Time
6.45pm

Venue
The Swedenborg Society
20-21 Bloomsbury Way (Hall entrance on Barter St)
London WC1A 2TH
[Map]

Booking Details
Free- Booking essential

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Some of the first Japanese people to settle in Britain were the Japanese acrobats who arrived in the late 1860s. The risky and long journeys they took to arrive in Britain were in contrast to the global touring lives of the second wave of Japanese troupes who arrived in Britain thirty years later, some of whom performed for The Japan Society in 1901 and 1910.

In this lecture, Pernille Rudlin will discuss why the first acrobats settled in Britain, what became of their families and their links to the second wave of performers – through to the impact of World War II on their lives.

Pernille Rudlin is a trustee of The Japan Society and a non-executive director of Japan House London, in addition to which she runs her own business providing consulting and training to Japanese companies. She lived in Japan as a child, student and when working for Mitsubishi Corporation, and is the author of several books and articles on Japanese business as well as a columnist for a Japanese business magazine.

Image of The Fukushima troupe, who performed at The Japan Society in 1901.

If you have any questions, please call The Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.

Supported by the Toshiba International Foundation (TIFO)

Booking Info