THE NEAT REVIEW ISSUE THREE takes us to Tokyo in the Spring of 2020.
Cyril Takayama
Hide Yamamoto
Akira Fujii
Shimpei Katsuragawa
Ponta the Smith
Takeshi Taniguchi
Ben Daggers
Tomoya Horiki
Kyohei Tatsukawa
Takuma Suzu
Fully typeset in both Japanese and English, this issue of THE NEAT REVIEW prods its stick at what could be seen as a cliché: it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. Clichés are normally boring, but not when THE NEAT REVIEW prods at them. To that end, through the lives and work of several of Japan’s best magicians, we explore cultural effects on the practice of and appreciation for sleight of hand. We visit these artists in their studios and discuss their worlds. We thank Cyril and Hide and Akira and Shimpei and Ponta and Takeshi and Ben and Tomoya and Kyohei and Takuma for helping us to make this issue of the journal. They are fierce.
Interviews, sleights, tricks and essays.
Issue Three is about magic and sleight of hand, of course, but it is also about language, culture, aesthetics. Issue Three is about people. Not everything needs to be explained. Not everything needs to be put into boxes. So, with care and with love, we take you to Tokyo for a good old chin wag with these magicians. Let us look together now.
Oishīdesu! Arigatou Gozaimasu!
Fully typeset in both Japanese and English, this issue of THE NEAT REVIEW prods its stick at what could be seen as a cliché: it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. Clichés are normally boring, but not when THE NEAT REVIEW prods at them. To that end, through the lives and work of several of Japan’s best magicians, we explore cultural effects on the practice of and appreciation for sleight of hand. We visit these artists in their studios and discuss their worlds. We thank Cyril and Hide and Akira and Shimpei and Ponta and Takeshi and Ben and Tomoya and Kyohei and Takuma for helping us to make this issue of the journal. They are fierce.
Interviews, sleights, tricks and essays.
Issue Three is about magic and sleight of hand, of course, but it is also about language, culture, aesthetics. Issue Three is about people. Not everything needs to be explained. Not everything needs to be put into boxes. So, with care and with love, we take you to Tokyo for a good old chin wag with these magicians. Let us look together now.
Oishīdesu!
Arigatou Gozaimasu!
Details
190mm x 260mm.
Lithographically printed, Perfect bound. Embossed cover.
Cyril Takayama
Considered to be one of the earliest pioneers of “street magic” and admired for his compelling storytelling, Cyril Takayama has starred in 16 primetime television specials and two international television series reaching viewers in over 26 countries, and has traveled extensively sharing his own personal brand of magic with the world.
Kyohei Tatsukawa
Kyohei was responsible for the first Japanese translation of S.W. Erdnase's The Expert at the Card Table book, and he contributed a multiple card shift to the third issue of THE NEAT REVIEW. We also collaborated with him and Tomoya Horiki (pictured above, right) to produce the Second Edition of The Expert at the Card Table, which has since received wide circulation within Japan.
Ponta The Smith
Ponta the Smith is known as one of the world’s foremost coin magicians. In 2009 he released Sick, which was to leave a lasting impact on the world of coin magic. Ponta is not just a coin technician though – he is passionate about all facets of magic, from sleights and routines to theory and presentation. He co-runs The Impossible Co. in Osaka with Ben Daggers and Takeshi Taniguchi.
Shimpei Katsuragawa
Founder of magic studio La Campanella, in Nagoya, and former FISM judge, Shimpei Katsuragawa studied music at university, and taught music before becoming a professional magician. He now gives shows and holds classes at La Campanella, and his art is a confluence of music and magic.
Takeshi Taniguchi
Takeshi Taniguchi is a highly proficient card magician from Japan. He co-runs The Impossible Co. in Osaka with Ben Daggers and Ponta The Smith.
Takuma Suzu
With over two decades in the automotive and fashion industries, Takuma Suzu has worked with Bugatti, Barbour, Moncler, Mackintosh and Woolrich to bring their brands to Japan. Born in Tokyo, where he lives today, Takuma read English literature at university, including a year studying abroad in Durham, in the UK. He loves rice pudding and describes himself as "pure Japanese but kind of an English old fart."
Tomoya Horiki
Tomoya Horiki is a highly respected Japanese magician, known as an "underground legend," particularly for his masterful coin magic, impeccable sleight-of-hand, devious methods, and unique philosophy. We spoke with him for Issue Three: TOKYO, in 2020.
Akira Fujii
Japanese magician Akira Fujii is world renowned for his invisible sleight of hand, notably the "Classic Pass", a notoriously difficult move to perform. He has had numerous appearances on Japanese television, and released many publications to the magic community.
Ben Daggers
Ben Daggers hails from London, England, and has made waves on the Japanese magic scene with highly original presentations and routines. Ben is responsible for editing and narrating of all Japanese content on The Impossible Co.'s website, ensuring that nothing is lost in translation. He co-runs The Impossible Co. in Osaka with Takeshi Taniguchi and Ponta The Smith.
Alexander Hansford
Alexander Hansford founded THE NEAT REVIEW in 2019, after printing a string of limited-run artist books to accompany talks he was giving to magicians worldwide. Across a 14-country lecture tour, from Vienna & Sydney to Beirut & Los Angeles, his books were met with a unique reverence by the magic community. Alexander's long-running collaboration with Derren Brown spans Derren's live theatre shows, including Olivier Award-winning “Underground,” “Secret” and “Showman,” to consulting on the card magic pieces for Derren's “Only Human,” which comes to London’s West-End in late-2026.
Kez Dearmer
Kez Dearmer is a painter, illustrator and 3D visualisation artist living and working in London. His writing, photography and illustrations feature heavily throughout the REVIEW and our books, and he co-created the DEARMERS playing cards with Alexander Hansford. Kez has been chief illustrator at THE NEAT REVIEW since its inception, and he is to thank for why any of the publications even exist.