Most Unique Magic Event in Japan: Magic Market
(This article is for non-Japanese speakers)
The Magic Market, also known as "Majike" in Japanese, is not just an event, but a magical phenomenon in Japan. It is a place where magic enthusiasts can come together to showcase their creativity and share their passion for magic. The first event was held in 2014, and since then, it has grown to become the largest magic event in Japan, with over 1,000 magic fans attending in recent years.
Tozaki Magic School, led by Mr. Tozaki Takuya, is the organizer of the Magic Market. Tozaki is a young and experienced magician who has won awards in both domestic and international competitions. The event is modeled after Comic Market, a famous convention in Japan for self-published comic books and novels where you can buy them directly from authors. Many people, including amateur magicians and famous professionals, participate by exhibiting and presenting their own works at the Magic Market. Even the world-renowned professional magicians like Akira Fujii attend this event. (Please see the tweet below.) How can we avoid attending this event? No, you can't!
トークショー紹介③「マジックを演じるために知っておくべきこと」
— マジックオンリー即売会「マジックマーケット」 (@tms_magicmarket) March 21, 2023
ゲスト：ふじいあきら。
サラリーマンとして、広島より上京。5年間サラリーマン生活後、子供の頃からの夢のマジシャンを諦めきれず独学でマジックの練習。マジックを活かした番組。旅番組、レポーター、俳優など幅広く活躍中。 pic.twitter.com/dftmfWLu8R
The Magic Market is held twice a year, in spring and autumn, both online and offline. The products and presentations available range from very niche booklets to handmade magic tools, professional-grade equipment, and video works. Many of these items can only be purchased at the event, making it a unique opportunity for magic enthusiasts to obtain rare and exclusive products.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Magic Market is the diversity of the products available. I enjoyed coming across very unique products in this spring event. For example…
- Coin tricks that can only be performed with Japanese Yen coins
- Self-care of the magician's body by a magician who runs an osteopathic clinic
- Mental magic on coin tossing
- Mathematical considerations on the infamous "Underdown"
- Magic tricks at a school for the blind
- A collection of superb techniques by a very skilled Japanese magician
- Tips and insights on "Hand Through Hand," which went viral on social media.
The website is only available in Japanese, but I think non-Japanese speakers can still enjoy the event online. The interface is similar to a general e-commerce website, and the use of translation software should make it accessible. There are also many presentation videos that are not language-dependent, which are enjoyable for many people.
Richard Kaufman, editor-in-chief of the authoritative magic magazine "Genii", talked about this event in 2018. (Genii 2018 Oct. Vol.81 No.10). Also he has published a book called "Japan Ingenious," which perfectly captures the essence of this event. The Magic Market is a rare and exciting event that showcases the talent and creativity of the Japanese magic community. This event is definitely a unique and stimulating experience that should not be missed by anyone who loves magic even for non-Japanese magicians.
The next Magic Market might be held in November 2023. (Not sure yet.)
Dealers at Magic Market
I found some dealers provide their trailer and detail about their products. Let me introduce some of dealers here.
MOUSEPAD
This group produces very high quality video every season. The latest product "MOUSEPAD2023" includes two coin tricks and two card tricks.
CoinLudens
CoinLudens is the team of coin magicians with fairly advanced techniques, and very active globally on social media. This team produces the material featuring "Finger palm" this spring.