Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe

Advanced copies Reviews and excerpts in Victoriana Magazine, Japan Times, ALA CHOICE, Chronicle of Higher Education, LJ, Booklist, College Art Association magazine, Juxtapoz, PRINT, Giant Robot, Brain Pickings, New York Times, Design Taxi Pitching author for interview (radio, TV, print and heavily online) Special outreach to academics studying cultural studies, Japan, Victorian history and the circus/performing arts, circus and performing arts blogs Publicity in conjunction with author's speaking engagements in San Francisco at the Japan Society and local bookstores Potential event/launch at UC Santa Barbara's Circus Library (Schodt is an alumnus of UCSB) Possibility to partner with Japan Societies across North America to help Schodt travel to major US & Canadian cities for multimedia lectures Promotional outreach to major circus/sideshow library archives, including Circus World Museum (WI), The University of Southern Mississippi -- McCain Library (MI), New York Public Library of Performing Arts (NY), Princeton University, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections (NJ), and the Harvard Theater Collection (MA) Promotion on the author's website, http://www.jai2.com/ Promotion to approximately 24 dedicated circus libraries in the US and almost 4 dozen circus schools, plus online circus bookstores such as Circus World Special mailings to libraries and universities with strong Asian studies and performing arts departments Participation at Asian Studies and performing arts academic trade fairs, including AAS and display copies via Academic Book Services et al.

The true tale of an American impresario, Japanese acrobats, and a circus tour adventure; richly illustrated."Frederik L. Schodt has at long last unveiled the fascinating story of 'Professor Risley.' Circus scholars, history buffs, and anyone with an ounce of curiosity should be grateful to him."-Dominique Jando, Circopedia.org "Professor" Risley (Richard Risley Carlisle) introduced the Western circus to Japan in 1864. Three years later, this former acrobat gave many in the West their first glimpse of Japan when he took his "Imperial Japanese Troupe" of acrobats and jugglers on a triumphant tour of North America and Europe. Over the next few years, the Troupe performed before presidents, monarchs, and ordinary citizens. Frederik L. Schodt argues compellingly that such early popular entertainments helped stir a curiosity about all things Japanese that eventually led to japonisme, The Mikado, and, in our time, the boom in manga and anime. Schodt's depiction of Risley and his troupe is enlivened by portraits of the circus demimonde and supported by nineteenth-century photographs, posters, and drawings, many in color. His accounts of these first meetings between Westerners and Japanese shed new light on how different cultures meet, mingle, and influence each other. Descriptions of crowds, dazzling routines, and superstar troupe performers like the famous Little All Right are a delightful revelation to anyone interested in Asia, the circus, and popular entertainment. Frederik L. Schodt has authored numerous books about Japan, including Manga! Manga! and Native American in the Land of the Shogun. In 2009 for his work he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.