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Magic Menu

This year, Jimmy Yoshida was recognized for 50 years of active participation in magic.

An International Ambassador for the Society of American Magicians, with special emphasis on the warm relationship between America and Japan, Jimmy, and his wife Aggie, have endeared themselves to hundreds of magicians over the years.

Many local magicians owe their start to Jimmy's generosity and encourgement and as Tengu the Magician,

Jimmy amazed many observers with his elegant magic. Many people remembers his magic shop on

Alakea Street during the 60's and 70's. He is known throughout the world as a magic convention dealer specializing in magic from Japan.

He has also guided groups of local magicians (including John Hirokawa at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Curtis Kam at the Hale Koa, and Les and Teri Au of YES) to becoming professionals.

He has also travelled to national and international conventions with local junior and adult magicians.

The last time he travelled with a large group of local magicians to compete and win was in the 1976 Pacific Coast Association of Magician (PCAM) Convention in Japan. Hawaii gained 4 awards.

This year, he has done it again. At the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) 70th Annual Convention in Los Angeles, California (July 1-4, 1998), his granddaughter, Kristi Toguchi, placed 2nd in the junior stage category.

Kelvin Chun placed first in the Strolling Olympics competition as the funniest (balloon twister).

Most recently, Hawaii earned 5 awards at the 1998 Pacific Coast Association of Magician (PCAM) Convention in Tacoma, Washington (July 29 - August 1). Performers have crossed the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to participate in these conventions. The Hawaii winners included:

1st Place, Junior Stage Magic: Kristi Toguchi

1st Place, Outstanding Showmanship and Presentation:

Kristi Toguchi

1st Place, Stage Magic: Lot Kahawai

2nd Place, Stage Magic: Aaron "Takeshi" Gouveia

2nd Place, Children's Entertainment: Kelvin Chun

and Jason Kunihiro participated in the Junior Stage and Close-up Magic competition.

Magic all around: For Kristi Toguchi, the family business is tricky Seventeen-year-old Kristi Toguchi, the latest in a line of magicians, just returned from filming a television special with Las Vegas magician Lance Burton and plans to continue her career on the Mainland after she graduates from Mid-Pacific Institute next year.

Tues., Dec. 14, 1999 (Honolulu Advertiser)

By Will Hoover

Advertiser Staff Writer

On a recent Saturday afternoon at the Aiea Public Library, 17-year-old

magician Kristi Toguchi performed what qualifies as an impossible feat:

She held three dozen grade schoolers spellbound for 30 full minutes.

During those moments objects appeared and vanished into thin air, matter

changed color and form, large floral bouquets were lifted from small

empty bags, silk scarves connected and disconnected in ways that defied

the known laws of physics.

As these miracles occurred, Toguchi, a Mid-Pac High School ballet and

modern dance student, twirled and stepped effortlessly to the sounds of

1950s pop tunes.

It was enough to make so many tiny eyes twinkle with astonished

excitement. The kids were doubly lucky this day. Out of the blue a

special guest magician materialized - Toguchi's granddad, Jimmy Yoshida.

At age 79, Yoshida claimed to be slowing down. It was only the third

magic act he had performed that day. But it's not as if he'd lost his

touch. Only last May, along with noted magicians Seigfried & Roy,

Yoshida was inducted into the Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame

in Hollywood.

Known in the business as Tengu the Magician, Yoshida has mentored more

prestidigitators in Hawaii than any other person. His students include

Waikiki's own "Mr. Magic," John Hirokawa.

Toguchi, a third-generation magician, learned from her grandfather, as

did her father, Terry Toguchi, also a pro.

"I'm surrounded by magic 24-7," said Toguchi after she finished her

library act and was about to board a plane to Las Vegas where she would

spend a week filming a junior magician television special with magician

Lance Burton.

"My dad's a magician, my grandfather's a magician. And we all live in

the same house in Aiea. Magic, for me, was just a part of my life. It

may be mysterious to others, but to me magic is normal - which I guess

is kind of bizarre."

Inside her home is a large room like few others in the world. Know

simply as "The Magic Room," it is crammed with hundreds of illusions,

tricks and effects, many dating back half a century or more.

"It is a totally magic room," said Toguchi, who has been performing

professionally for the past three years.

It is in this room that Toguchi practices the act she has performed from

New York City to Los Angeles, and Kyoto, Japan to Aiea. It is also where

a steady stream of magicians from near and far have congregated almost

daily throughout Toguchi's entire life.

One is Jimmy Zukemura, long-time friend of Toguchi's grandfather and

owner of Zuke's Magic and Jokes shop on Auld Lane. Zukemura was actually

Toguchi's first magic instructor.

"I started her off when she was about 11," he said. "Her grandfather

told me to teach her. I said, 'You're the magician, you teach her.' But

he said, 'No, you teach her. I'm her grandfather.' I guess it's like you

can't teach your wife to drive a car."

According to Zukemura, Toguchi became smitten with magic after she won a

trip to a week-long magic camp on the Mainland several years ago.

"She met all these other junior magicians, plus professional magicians

who came to teach the classes," he said.

After that, Yoshida took over as Toguchi's primary instructor.

Toguchi plans to attend a performance art school in New York City next

year, although at this point she doesn't know which one.

"I really love all types of magic," said Toguchi, who recently began

studying close-up magic from specialist Allen Okawa. "And, I want to

learn how to perform all of them. And when I move to New York, I think

it will be easier for me to start out as a close-up magician so I can

perform intimate magic at restaurants and corporate events."

Eventually, though, she expects to soar.

"I want to tour the world with one show that's illusions and stage magic

together," she said. "And just do it for billions of people who love

magic."

Ask about her favorite illusion, and Toguchi's own eyes twinkle.

"It has to be flying," she said. "David Copperfield does that. I saw him

live when he came to Hawaii. It's incredible! ... I mean, there's just

no possible way. But he does it - right in front of your face so you

know it's happening. That is definitely what I want to do someday.

"I want to fly."

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