Cyril Takayama

I found out about this magician called Cyril Takayama and his troubled past really interested me. He ran away from his family when he was young and performed magic in the streets for only little sums of money, enough to keep him alive. And after all the difficulties he faced, look where he is now, and internationally renowned magician.



Here is an excerpt of his biography from wikipedia--->

Cyril Takayama was born and raised in Hollywood, California. His father is a native Ryukyuan from Okinawa prefecture in Japan, while his mother is Moroccan–French[1], both of whom were beauticians. Cyril Takayama had an eventful yet troubled upbringing. A recent profile in Magic (“The Magazine for Magicians”) describes him being expelled from school at 15 and then dropping out of school at the age of 16. Cyril's father, upset at his behavioral problems, sent him to Japan. While traveling he got off the plane during a stopover in Tokyo and never got back on. Cyril wound up busking on the streets of Shinjuku, and at times had so little money that he could afford just one meal a day. He attempted to contact Japan magic circles though they viewed him as an outsider. At the age of 17, Cyril met a rich Japanese businessman who saw his talent and employed him to work in his hotel paying him for each short range performance 4 to 5 days a week. For two years Cyril performed as a magician for weddings ]and parties. Within 2 months Cyril created his own stage magic show. Ito, impressed at Cyril's progress, sent Cyril to magic assemblies and competitions. In 1991, Cyril's dedication began to pay off. He was awarded a top prize by magic's international governing body, the International Federation of Magic Societies, as well in 1994. In 1992, he joined the International Brotherhood of Magicians.



Here is a video of him performing, it is in japanese but you will still understand so don't worry :).