The Japanese Jugglers Association, based in Tokyo, is an official IJA affiliate with more than 30 members. Jack Plimpton, its American founding father, thinks it could grow beyond all belief with proper public relations care and nourishment.

Plimpton led an entourage of ten Japanese to the convention. Nobuhiro Iwama, a wrestling promoter and the JJA's financial supporter, came along and paid everyone's way. Iwama was a non-juggler when he arrived, but proudly took. the skill back to Tokyo in his own hands.

Plimpton predicted, "It's going to be big in Japan because they're very interested in American fads; skateboarding and roller skating took off very fast. "

A major factor in its success, he said, is the Japanese tendency to practice hard at their recreation. "They have a mindset of working at their play," he said. . .People in discoteques are always dancing in front of mirrors to hone their style. "

Unabashedly, Plimpton outlined a public relations campaign designed to make juggling the biggest hit in Japan since Mount Fuji. "It's important to convince people that juggling will be popular," he said. "We'll use the mass media to increase juggling awareness throughout the country. Coverage of this convention in Japanese magazines and on television should help out there. "

A four-person Japanese television crew based in Los Angeles watched and filmed several days of convention activities. The results of their work will be shown on a major Japanese net­work with musical accompaniment in a ten­minute time slot following the late-night news, Plimpton said.

Plimpton urged American performers to try out the Japanese entertainment market. Several IJA members already have, including Frank Olivier, Craig Bames, Mike Godeau and Avner the Eccentric. Plimpton circulated copies of a sample contract to people interested in the possibility of a tour, along with maps of Tokyo showing the best spots for street juggling.

Plimpton's personal juggling history began in 1975 while he was a student at Harvard Uni­versity in Boston. At that time, he and Stuart Haber performed one of the first street acts there, along with LocoMotion Vaudeville and Don and Lana Reed.

Plimpton attended the Youngstown, OH, and Eugene, OR, IJA conventions. For the past three years, he has been living and working in Japan, but has enrolled at Stanford University graduate school of business this fall.

The JJA began with Plimpton juggling for recreation in a Tokyo park on Sunday afternoons. A festive atmosphere was aided by "the bamboo sprout kids," a recent .phenomenon of young fun-seekers who dress brightly and dance in the parks on Sundays.

Plimpton began performing a demon-taming routine for curious passersby, and teaching those who would learn. Regulars began coming back, and a club was formed. A member then convinced Iwama to support the group by paying for leaflets, stationery, t-shirts and the trip to the IJA convention.

Though he hates to leave Japan at this time, Plimpton says that he is confident of the IJA's continued growth.

Return to Main Index

Next Page --->