KIJUTSU

Kijutsu is a traditional Japanese magic performance that entertains audience with tricks, effects, and illusions. Its origin can be traced to sangaku (various entertainments) from the Nara period. Kijutsu uses a variety of tools from large-scale stage sets to small gadgets for sleight-of-hand manipulations. Kijutsu performers (kijutsu-shi) are eager to entertain not only by showing tricks but also with stylized movements not seen in Western magic and by engaging the audience in enlivening conversations. In an attempt to see through the tricks, Ritsu has been staring at the kijutsu-shi’s hands as hard as he could but to no avail. His moves are as fast as lightning—no wonder kijutsu was also called tezuma (hand lightning) in the old days.