THE STORY OF TENYO

In 1931, Tenyo Shokyokusai (left) formed a magic manufacturing company in Japan and became the first company to sell magic tricks over the counter ("Magic Corner") within the Mitsukoshi department Store in Tokyo. As this was very successful, he visited many stores throughout Japan to promote his sales.

In 1953, Tenyo's youngest son Akira Yamada took over the company which had now been formed as the Tenyo Magic Laboratory. Yamada opened many more Magic Corners with the help of some friends, making magic very popular to the public (in much the same way Marvin's Magic has in London and New York). He then expanded the range into jokes and novelties (which proved to be a good decision) and Magic Corners were appearing all over Japan.

The Magic Laboratory became to big and eventually became The Tenyo Company Limited. Yamada held the "Tenyo Magic Festival" every year to show his devotion to magic in Japan and also sponsored lecture courses for amateur magicians.

In 1960, the Tenyo Company had firmly established itself with many of their present day inventors joining the company. They had become a company who had gained a reputation as fine manufacturers of magic effects where quality, originality and entertainment value are paramount.

Aswell as contributing a great deal to the magic fraternity in Japan (Tenyo translated all the volumes of the "Tarbell Corse in Magic" into Japanese), they have continued to be a great success throughout the rest of the world.

We - the magic fraternity are grateful as we have seen some of the most amazing magic that has ever existed and will continue to do so...

You can learn more about the Tenyo story if you can get hold of

a copy of the November/December 1989 issue

of Tannen's Magic Manuscript

and the November 1986 issue of Genii Magazine.