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00:00I'm an acrobat!
00:02The cute ponies are back!
00:04The elephant and lion are back!
00:06And the acrobat is breathing!
00:08The scenery of the tent is unforgettable.
00:10This is the world of circus.
00:12Circus is the world of circus.
00:14Circus is the world of circus.
00:16I had fun!
00:18I was so impressed by the performance!
00:20I was surprised!
00:22I was so impressed!
00:24I had fun!
00:26I was impressed by the performance!
00:28I was impressed!
00:30I was surprised!
00:32I feel like I've come here a hundred times.
00:34It's one of the most beautiful places in Japan.
00:36The place is located in Kayamachi.
00:38The place is located in Kayamachi.
00:40It's been open for 122 years.
00:42It's been open for 122 years.
00:44It's been open for 122 years.
00:46Working on the mechanical parts of the circus
00:48Working on the mechanical parts of the circus
00:50and exploring various sorts of entertainment.
00:52and exploring various sorts of entertainment.
00:54In the 1930s, Kinoshita Circus became a subsidiary of Kinoshita Circus.
01:06Behind the glamorous stage, there was a trial because it had accumulated a long history.
01:13The 4th president was waiting for a huge subsidy of 100 million yen.
01:18It was a start from the minus.
01:21The young president vowed to revive the circus.
01:27How did he revive Kinoshita Circus and grow it to attract 1 million spectators a year?
01:36Let's take a look at the story of his efforts and challenges hidden behind the stage.
01:51Kinoshita Circus
01:59A dream-like moment that spreads in the tent.
02:04Kinoshita Circus creates the moment when both adults and children are taken away.
02:11The performance that can be said to be the masterpiece of such a company.
02:17Tetsu no Kyutai
02:20A giant iron sphere that can be seen in the center of the stage.
02:24Among them, three motorcycles run recklessly.
02:28It's a powerful motorcycle show.
02:31It's a show where you can't put on safety equipment such as lifeboats or safety nets.
02:38If you make a mistake, you'll be in danger of your life.
02:43It's a show that won't let you down.
02:46This powerful performance was actually the first thing the company showed in 1945.
02:56Until then, motorcycles about 10 meters long were running sideways.
03:08That's why my first motorcycle was a sphere.
03:12If I had a patent, I would have gone to the world.
03:17Kinoshita Circus has 1 million members a year.
03:21This is the 122nd year of Kinoshita Circus, the oldest circus in Japan.
03:27It started in 1902.
03:30Mr. Tatasuki Kinoshita, the founder of Kinoshita Circus, worked in China.
03:35He returned to Japan after the Sino-Japanese War and restarted his business in Okayama City.
03:39Since then, Kinoshita Circus has continued to operate in Okayama.
03:45The company's history is the history of Japanese circuses.
03:49In the Meiji period, Kinoshita Circus introduced an aerial swing from Russia.
03:53In the early Showa period, Kinoshita Circus introduced elephants and deers.
03:57Kinoshita Circus has always been a new challenge.
04:02Behind this growth, there was a long history as a company.
04:07Mr. Mitsudo, the second president of Kinoshita Circus, was the first to make a big change.
04:15Kinoshita Circus was established as a company in the 1930s.
04:27When I joined Kinoshita Circus in 1949, there was no break.
04:32Since then, Kinoshita Circus has changed a lot.
04:34Now, Kinoshita Circus has two days a week.
04:36Kinoshita Circus has two days a week for each week.
04:38Until now, Kinoshita Circus had three days a week.
04:42Now, Kinoshita Circus has two days a week.
04:45In fact, all the Japanese performers in Kinoshita Circus are employees.
04:50The second generation of Kinoshita Circus improved the working environment and created an easy-to-work workplace.
04:57Due to this organizational reform, there was a big change in the form of traditional techniques.
05:03In the past, there were teachers and students.
05:07It was a very systematic form.
05:10Now, I'm trying to do what I like.
05:14In that sense, I think it's especially easier for female employees to join.
05:22I think there was a time when I thought I wouldn't give up my stage to anyone.
05:30It's not an individual stage.
05:33It's an organizational circus.
05:36If you don't connect it to the structure, I don't think art will continue.
05:41It is also an important mission of the company to inherit traditional techniques.
05:46This is Kuzunoha, a play from 1902.
05:58It was stopped once, but it has been revived and is still performing on stage.
06:05It's a great performance.
06:09This is a very unorthodox performance.
06:12I want to understand it and play it.
06:15I also want to aim for a style that can be accepted by modern people.
06:21I think we have to inherit it as long as Kinoshita Circus continues.
06:26Kinoshita Circus is the only classic Japanese play.
06:30There is no Kuzunoha in the world.
06:34It is important to revive such a tradition.
06:40Also, by becoming an employee, the performers have a safe environment to work in.
06:47Even if you can't perform due to injury, there are places where you can perform outside of the stage.
06:54I see.
06:56I fell down in the airbag.
06:59I've been living in Tokyo for three years.
07:02I was in trouble because I had nothing to live for.
07:05I have a mission to make it a company that can support it.
07:14There were 40 circus groups in Japan before the war.
07:18Only Kinoshita Circus continues.
07:21The key to its survival was the publicity strategy that cooperated with newspapers.
07:27At the time, innovative publicity strategies such as giving tickets to newspapers were successful.
07:37In 1981, Kinoshita Circus was so popular that it mobilized 1.6 million people at the Port Island Expo in Kobe.
07:46Several years later, there was a big crisis.
07:52Mr. Mitsunori Kinoshita, the third generation, suddenly fell ill.
07:57Mr. Tadashi Kinoshita, the current president, was the fourth generation.
08:02However, the shocking fact was revealed immediately after his inauguration.
08:07The company had a deficit of 1 billion yen.
08:12I've heard and seen Kinoshita Circus.
08:18I feel like everyone has Kinoshita Circus in their memory.
08:22I'm a little shocked that the VTR is over.
08:27Mr. Tadashi Kinoshita, the fourth generation president of Kinoshita Circus, is in the studio.
08:35How many performances does Kinoshita Circus have every year?
08:39Four to five places a year.
08:42The number of stages is 500 to 600.
08:46Kinoshita Circus is not a one-day performance.
08:49Kinoshita Circus has two performances on weekdays and three on Sundays.
08:53It's a shocking number for a person who performs on the same stage.
08:57I think so, too.
08:58I think everyone's physical strength is weak.
09:00When I was in Kinoshita Circus, I performed about 1,000 times a year.
09:05When I was in Kinoshita Circus, I performed seven times a day.
09:09I was the president of Kinoshita Circus.
09:15I was on the stage.
09:17I don't know if I haven't heard about it.
09:20How many people are active in Kinoshita Circus?
09:27About 100 people.
09:29That's a lot.
09:32What's the balance?
09:3440 to 50 performers and 20 foreign artists.
09:39In addition, there are about 100 to 120 people in the back yard.
09:46Do you have animals?
09:48Of course.
09:49One elephant eats 50 people.
09:53Two elephants eat 100 people.
09:55It sounds like a lot of work.
09:57How do you sleep?
09:59There is a sea container in the back yard of the tent.
10:04I remodeled it.
10:05It has a radiator and a bath.
10:08It's a moving business hotel.
10:11It's a truck.
10:12Is it a private room?
10:14No, it's a family room.
10:16It's not a private room.
10:17It's a private room.
10:19It's a different era.
10:21It's a working environment.
10:23That's right.
10:26When you were appointed as the president of Kinoshita Circus, you had a debt of 100 million yen.
10:34Did you have no idea?
10:36I didn't think I had that much debt.
10:44How did the company pay off the debt of 100 million yen?
10:54Mr. Tadashi Kinoshita, who was appointed as the president at the age of 40.
10:58Right after his appointment, he found out that the company had a debt of 100 million yen.
11:04In addition to the cost of transportation, which costs 30 million to 50 million yen per trip,
11:10the performance at Hakuran-kai, which used to be the principal, gradually lost its attractiveness,
11:15and the company's fortune rapidly deteriorated.
11:19My teacher and my sister, the vice president, have a debt of about 100 million yen.
11:27Every year, it's 100 million, 200 million.
11:31If the debt of 100 million yen continues to grow every year,
11:38the Kinoshita family will lose everything.
11:44A huge debt of 100 million yen.
11:47However, the only way to pay off the debt of 100 million yen is the circus.
11:50The fourth president, Mr. Kinoshita, was put in the biggest crisis of his life.
11:55At that time, he remembered his second father's words.
12:00Circus success
12:03The key to success in the circus is one place, two performances, and three stories.
12:07A good place, a strong business, and an attractive performance.
12:12These three things can make the audience happy.
12:17The fourth president made up his mind to return to this starting point.
12:25The first is to choose a place with a topic.
12:29For example, Himeji Castle, which will later become a world heritage site.
12:33If you perform in front of the castle, it will be a hot topic.
12:40In addition, Nagoya Stadium, Tsukusano Green Dome in Sapporo, etc.
12:45He was particular about the place where the audience can expect.
12:49The second key is a strong business.
12:53He continued his steady business activities.
12:56Kindergarten, nursery school, elementary school, junior high school, high school, vocational school, university.
13:01Of course, that's all.
13:05There's only one thing to do.
13:09And the third story is the performance of the circus.
13:13The fourth president's goal is the best performance in the world.
13:17For this purpose, he traveled abroad and discovered talented performers one after another.
13:25One of them is Andres Taikan, who has an amazing physical ability.
13:31He was born in a circus family and has been performing since he was three years old.
13:37He welcomed such a world-class person to the company and further evolved the circus.
13:47I'm acting as an agent, so I have a high salary.
13:52If I go there and negotiate directly, I'll get half or one-third of the salary.
14:01So I went there directly to make a good performance while reducing the cost.
14:09In addition, he made reforms to be the best in the world.
14:15He invited professionals from famous theme parks.
14:18He changed the production so that he could perform one by one one after another.
14:26He wanted to attract the audience and captivate them.
14:31The company, which has evolved further with the teaching of three stories,
14:37was able to recover its business.
14:40Ten years later, the company was back in business again.
14:46It has now grown into a world-class circus with 1 million spectators a year.
14:55There was another important factor behind this recovery.
15:01I was a little surprised.
15:03You made a great effort to recover 1 billion yen.
15:08I can see that you made a great effort.
15:13First of all, I'd like to ask you one by one.
15:16How many foreign performers have you contracted?
15:21There are about 20 people now.
15:24There is a World Circus Festival in Monaco every year.
15:31It will be held at the end of January.
15:33Every year I go there, I get to know more people.
15:37I've built a great relationship with them.
15:39That's also connected to a strong business.
15:43How long does it take to get along with them?
15:47Basically, it takes half a year, one year, or two years.
15:52And there are times when you don't get along with them.
15:56That's why there are artists who have been around for more than 10 years.
16:01It's like a family.
16:04It's more than a family.
16:06They came to Japan when I was in elementary school.
16:09Now they are in their 20s and are performing on stage.
16:13It's a good cycle.
16:15What is the most difficult part of the recovery?
16:22It's the location.
16:25If the location is good, more people will come.
16:28It takes a lot of space.
16:30Yes. 100m x 150m.
16:3430,000 square meters for parking.
16:37It's close to the station.
16:39The company tent is very big.
16:41How many people can fit in there?
16:43About 2,000 people.
16:45We often say that a theater is a big box with 2,000 people.
16:52When a typhoon comes, you have to lower the tent.
16:55It's not a building.
16:57There is also a problem with the weather.
17:00It was difficult during the typhoon the other day.
17:02By the way, where are you performing now?
17:05I'm in Miyazaki after the Hiroshima concert.
17:08Where in Miyazaki?
17:09Ion Mall.
17:11It's the No. 1 place in Kyushu.
17:16I go there, eat, shop, and watch the circus.
17:21It's a fun day.
17:22It's a collaboration.
17:23I see.
17:24What is the other factor that helped the company recover?
17:33Performers shine on a gorgeous stage.
17:37Their work does not end on the stage alone.
17:41After the performance, they change clothes and prepare equipment.
17:46They also provide support.
17:51They even make the sign at the entrance of the tent.
17:57We do everything ourselves.
18:02We go to the circus to get a ticket for the concert.
18:06We go to the circus to get a ticket for the concert.
18:11We do everything ourselves.
18:17It's like a town where everyone has their own job.
18:23There is a performer who lives with his family like a real town.
18:27Jin-ryu Wasada is in charge of making signs.
18:31He is a star who is active in aerobatics and acrobatics.
18:36His wife, Sumire, is a dancer on stage.
18:41Two years ago, her daughter, Yua, was born.
18:44The three of them continue to live around the country.
18:51Everyone takes care of us.
18:56Whenever we do something, someone comes to help us.
18:59Sometimes, they ask us to take a bath.
19:02We get along with many people.
19:07It's a good environment.
19:09People around us help us.
19:12They take good care of us.
19:18The children born here are raised by all members of the circus.
19:23Such a warm atmosphere and strong bond is a great strength to support the company.
19:34The training of new employees is also an important role.
19:39After the performance, they practice to improve their skills.
19:44This is Rian Sakamoto, the first year of joining the company.
19:48She is in charge of a play called Akashiruku.
19:53I get a lot of time from my seniors.
19:56There are many people I want to help.
19:59I want to make good use of this time.
20:06This is the second time Sakamoto practices on stage.
20:10She is taught how to take a posture.
20:18Is this better?
20:19Yes, it is.
20:20Can I try this?
20:21Yes, that's better.
20:22The movement is different from gymnastics.
20:25I've been doing gymnastics for 15 years.
20:28I'm not good at it.
20:30But the stage is like ballet.
20:33I think soft hands are more beautiful.
20:36I want him to do gymnastics.
20:39I think it's a little different.
20:43Sakamoto is only dancing in the opening of the play.
20:48She continues to practice to get a new role.
20:52I want to impress many people with this play.
20:56I want to be encouraged.
20:59That's why I'm practicing hard.
21:02There was an invisible effort and sweat behind the glamorous show.
21:07Wow!
21:09When I was a kid, I was impressed by this play.
21:15I want to make a show that children can't forget.
21:27I want the audience to enjoy the play.
21:33I want the audience to enjoy the play.
21:37I want the audience to enjoy the play.
21:40I want the audience to enjoy the play.
21:43The bond between the staff and the audience has lasted for 122 years.
21:50The challenge as a company.
21:53And the love for the circus.
21:56Their love continues to make this stage of dreams shine.
22:04It's wonderful.
22:06I'm still working on my play.
22:10I sell goods.
22:13I sell goods.
22:16I can feel it.
22:19You have to prepare a lot.
22:27What do you do on your days off?
22:31I go to the sea near Hiroshima and Miyazaki.
22:35I go fishing and sightseeing.
22:38I go back to my family.
22:41I call my family.
22:43There are various activities.
22:46You used to be a coach.
22:50What is the most important thing about being a performer?
22:57It's humility.
23:00I like my team.
23:03I like my team.
23:06I like my team.
23:09I think the charm of doing something in front of people is that it doesn't matter what happens in the world.
23:21What is your future goal?
23:24I want to make the world's largest circus.
23:29I want to be a company that can pursue the happiness of the staff.
23:36I think that what YASHIMA is saying will be conveyed to many people in today's VTR.
23:44YASHIMA, please tell us today's lesson.
23:49This time...
23:52To show people a dream, you have to have a dream.
23:59The KINOSHITA DAI CIRCUS that everyone has been to once.
24:04I think it's amazing.
24:07To convey that properly, if the performer is depressed, it won't be a story.
24:15That's right.
24:16It will be exposed.
24:19I'm really looking forward to it.
24:22Thank you very much for today.