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The Amazing Miracles of Shigeo Takagi

1990 Hardcover

Foreword:
- Max Maven
Illustrator:
- Ton Onosaka

Contents

Search Contents

#	Title	Type
9	Foreword	Foreword
11	Devilishly Direct Shigeo Takagi	Trick
A version of Marlo/D'Amico's "Devilish Miracle." Two cards are selected and returned. Five cards are shown face up. One of those cards was the card chosen by #1. That card vanishes from the five card spread and reappears reversed in the deck. Then #2's card appears reversed in the five card spread.
13	Takagi's Coins Across Shigeo Takagi	Trick
A three part routine: 1) Eight coins are used, four in each hand. Coins in the left hand travel to the right hand. 2) Six coins are used, three in each hand. Coins in the left hand travel to the right hand. 3) Four coins are used, two in each hand. Coins in the right hand travel to the left hand.
19	Wild Time Shigeo Takagi	Trick
A version of Peter Kane/Frank Garcia "Wild Card" plot. Six Jokers and a Two of Hearts are displayed. Each of the Jokers transforms into a Two of Hearts leaving seven cards on the table. All of them the Two of Hearts.
24	The Wild Blanks Shigeo Takagi	Trick
Five cards are shown blank on both sides and are placed on the table in a row. The magician signs their name on one of the cards and, one at a time, the signature magically transfers itself to the other four cards.
26	The Solid Cup Shigeo Takagi	Trick
A wooden cup is displayed. A ball is produced, vanished several times, and repeatedly reappears beneath the cup. Then a large ball appears and the cup is shown to be solid. The large ball vanishes into the bottom of the cup. And the cup is untwisted into two sections revealing the large ball inside.
32	Trans-Purse-Sition Shigeo Takagi	Trick
Four coins, three half dollars and a Chinese coin, are removed from a small purse. The Chinese coin is replaced inside the purse. The three half dollars are held in the hand, but change into the Chinese coin. The purse is opened and the three half dollars spill out. No extra coins or gimmicks.
35	Trans-Purse-Tation Shigeo Takagi	Trick
Four coins are removed from a small purse and displayed. One by one they are placed back in the purse and the purse is closed. Then one at a time the coins appear in the hand until the purse is empty.
38	The Ghostly Silk Shigeo Takagi	Trick
Two large silks are shown. The participant holds a silk vertically by the corners between their hands. The magician takes a second silk and holding it horizontally, passes it behind the spectator's silk. The silks magically pass through each other.
40	Who Cuts First? Shigeo Takagi	Trick
The participant cuts the deck into four piles. The magician turns over the top card of each pile. They are the four Aces.
43	Scissorope Shigeo Takagi	Trick
A doubled length of rope is threaded through the finger hole of a pair of scissors. A knot is formed and the participant holds the ends of the rope, but the scissors magically come free.
45	The Leaping Silk Shigeo Takagi	Trick
A silk is knotted around a piece of rope. The participant holds the ends of the rope. The magician threads a second piece of rope through the silk. With a tug, the knotted silk jumps from the participant's rope and is left knotted around the magician's rope.
47	Total Triumph Shigeo Takagi	Trick
Takagi's take on Dai Vernon's "Triumph.” Using variants of Tenkai's Optical False Shuffle and Daryl's Triumph Cutting Display. A card is selected and returned. The cards are shuffled face up into face down. The cards are spread revealing all cards facing the same way -- except for the selected card.
51	Rising Triumph Shigeo Takagi	Trick
Using the set up from "Total Triumph" a card is selected and returned and the cards are shuffled face up into face down using an in-the-hands pinkie riffle shuffle. The selected card rises from the pack per Eric Mason, Ken Krenzel, and Fred Robinson. The rest of the cards face the same direction.
53	Color Shift Triumph Shigeo Takagi	Trick
Two cards are selected and returned. The cards are shuffled face up into face down. When the cards are spread across the table, all of the cards are face up except for two face down cards -- the selected cards. The rest of the deck is turned over to reveal that color of the backs have changed.
55	The Oriental Coins Shigeo Takagi	Trick
Part 1: using two shallow bowls or saucers placed mouth to mouth, coins vanish from the magician's hand and appear inside the bowls. Part 2: From "Takagi's Coins Across" and the coins travel from pocket to hand. Part 3: A repeat of Part 2 with the surprising production of dozens of coins.
58	The Double Thought Shigeo Takagi	Trick
The magician sets one card aside as a prediction. The participant is invited to select a card. The cards are turned over and the prediction proves to be the mate of the selected card. A version of Howard Schwartzman’s “The Impeccable Prediction,” featuring Takagi’s technique for the Double Lift.
61	Convergence Shigeo Takagi	Trick
A version of Yank Hoe's "Sympathetic Coins" or Al Schneider's "Matrix." Four coins are laid out on the table in a square formation. Each coin is covered with an Ace. One by one the coins vanish and gather under a single card. Takagi gives special attention to the graceful choreography of the Aces.
65	Ropes, Knots, and Wand Shigeo Takagi	Trick
The participant holds a wand vertically with two hands at the ends. The magician passes a loop of rope behind the wand and proceeds to tie a series of knots around the wand. The knots suddenly dissolve and the loop of rope comes free from around the wand.
68	Double Cut and Restored Rope Shigeo Takagi	Trick
A rope is cut in two and restored. The ends are knotted and the rope is cut again with the new ends also knotted. The knots vanish and once again the rope is restored.

FOREWORD - In recent times, when conversation turns to the relationship between the United States and Japan, the focus tends to be upon imports, exports and trade friction. The relationship between the magicians of those two countries is also concerned with trade -- but happily enough without friction. During the nineteenth century western audiences had their first experience with Asian magicians who trouped the theater stages of Europe and America. Their work had a profound impact on the magicians of the west, many of whom quickly learned the techniques of Asian magic and adapted it to their won work. Conversely, the oriental performers picked up new magic from their occidental contemporaries, which they brought back to their home countries. During the modern era, this exchange of ideas and information between east and west has escalated, most specifically between the U.S. and Japan. The individual who has had the most involvement in this artistic dialogue is the subject of this book, Shigeo Takagi. By profession, Takagi has been a translator for the Japanese equivalent of the Library of congress. His linguistic abilities have enabled him to absorb the detailed literature of western magic, augmented by his own creative and analytical input. For decades, he has generously shared his knowledge and understanding of magic with the magicians of Japan. Shigeo Takagi has always been an amateur, in the literal sense of that work: he is involved with magic for the sheer love of it. His infatuation is by no means recent. He can vividly recall the experience, as a child, of standing on a chair in the back of a hall, craning to get a better view of Max Malini when that master performed in Tokyo. In this book you will see how Takagi's infatuation has evolved into a rarified body of work. Each routine has been meticulously honed over a period of time, each detail carefully determined. It is a diverse assortment of material, as befits a man who has a wide range of interests. Takagi is, in some respects, the Walter Gibson of Japan, having authored dozens of books not only for magicians but for the general public. Many of these are devoted to conjuring, of course, but his topics also include related areas such as puzzles, games, hypnosis, memory, psychology and philosophy. Shigeo Takagi that rarity, both a gentleman and a gentle man. Because of his altruism, countless magicians have benefited. Now, you will have and opportunity to join their number. Max Maven, Hollywood, CA, February, 1990.