Founded in 2000, the I.V.A. is the Japan's
largest and newest ventriloquist organization.
Membership is open to all persons interested
in and/or practicing the art of ventriloquism,
either as a hobby or professionally.
Japan Ventriloquist Festival 2001
GREAT SUCCESS両両
丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂丂
Japan Ventriloquist's Festival was held with great success.
This event was held for the first time in
Japan and ventriloquists from around the
world would attended.
Encouraging mail was sent from Mr. Valentine
Vox who is Director of International Ventriloquists'
Association and from the NAAV and it's members.
Dear Takeshi Ikeda,
"It's a great pleasure for me to see
that the Japan ventriloquists Festival will
take place this year for the first time.This
will undoubtedly mark a new beginning for
ventriloquism in Japan and bring together
talent and information from ventriloquists
around the world. I regret not be able to
attend due to other commitments.My best wishes
to Takeshi Ikeda and congratulations for
all his fine work in making this event happen"
Thank you again
Regards
V
I am so sorry that I could not be in attendance
at this year's festival.
I hope you have a wonderful ventriloquist
convention.
Please extend my "hello" to all
the good ventriloquists from around the world
and there in Japan.
My heart is with you as you meet this week.
AND I WILL BE THERE NEXT YEAR!
sincerely,
T
Dear Takeshi Ikeda,
members of the Japan Ventriloquists' Association,
and honored guests from other countries~
I would like to send good wishes to all of
you at the first Japan Ventriloquist Festival.
I am delighted that you are giving Valentine
Vox a special award.
What an incredible honor for him. It will
be helpful to all of you to have his book
translated into Japanese.
I wish that I could have attended the festival
this year, and hope to be able to attend
in the future.
I have enjoyed meeting many of you at the
Vegas Ventriloquist Festival, and I hope
to see many of you in April.
Enjoy yourselves and continue to gain skills
in ventriloquism!
Sincerely,
C
Dear Takeshi Ikeda,
Sorry for the delay in reply as I was out
of town I could not reply you.
It would have been a great pleasure &
fun to perform & attend the JVA,
but due to my tight schedule I could not
make it.
Currently I am busy in shooting a feature
film based entirely on puppets.
I wish you & your team mates a GRAND
SUCCESS for the forthcoming Japan Ventriloquist
Festival.
When a person like you are there I have no
doubt that the JVA will not be only successful
but it will be memorable & exciting for
each & everyone.
Give my regards to all the Ventriloquists
& Puppeteers. Hope to see you in next
year's festival.
Your Ventriloquial
FRIEND INDIA,
R
Hi Takeshi,
I am very interested to attend the Japan
Ventriloquist Convention.
It would bean honor to attend.
As long as the dates are before October 1,
2002 there is a chance and we would look
forward to considering it.
Please let me know details as soon as possible,
including prices, so I can see if I can afford
to come and if the time is available.
The ventriloquists I met at the International
Ventriloquist Association Festival were wonderful
and I found each one to be talented and delightful.
As a result my wife and I are hoping to attend
if finances and times worlk out.
Looking forward to your response.
C
Dear Japanese Festival,
I hope you have a successful and well-attended
meeting.
Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers
for us in American.
We hope to see you here again next summer.
All the Best,
N
丂
"Let me begin by saying how appreciative
I am to Mr. Takeshi Ikeda for the opportunity
to communicate with all of you in this way.
I am very sorry that I was not able to be
there with you for this first Japanese Ventriloquist
Festival as I had hoped.
I truly looked forward to personally meeting
many new friends who share the same love
for Ventriloquism as I do as well as seeing
and touring your beautiful country.
Recent events and scheduling did not allow
this to happen this time but I will look
forward to next year with even greater anticipation!
I have watched with great delight as many
Japanese Ventriloquists have performed in
the International Shows at our Vent Festivals
in America and enjoyed the fresh approach
that they brought to the art.
I trust that this art will continue to grow
in Japan and I'm especially interested to
know how I can contribute in terms of creating
figures that are best tailored to meet your
needs and audience.
I hope that many of you may have had the
chance to see a Selberg Figure firsthand
or perhaps saw the Japanese program entitled
"The worlds Greatest craftsmen"
in which I was fortunate to be featured.
This show aired a couple years back and showed
many details of how I create my figures.
I would be very grateful if some of you would
wish to communicate with me through the Internet
and share your thoughts concerning this.
My email address is: Selberg@concentric.net
I will bring several figures with me next
year so whomever wants to can try them out!
In the meantime I have sent several copies
of my Animated Figure Catalog and hope there
are enough for all who want them.
Let me close by saying that I fully expect
the J.V.A.Festival will be a great success
and memorable experience for all who are
here.
I hope that you will all attend next year
as well so that I can meet you personally
then!
Hi Takeshi,
Its nice hearing from you, I hope You and
your family are well.
I sure wish I could have attended the Japanese
Ventriloquist convention.
Its busy here in NYC and New Jersey with
the holiday Season upon us.
Perhaps next year! I wish you and the Patrons
much luck and success with this first event.
And I am happy to hear the popularity of
ventriloquism expanding in Japan.
Let me know how it goes and please email
me some pictures of the event.
Remeber Don't move your lips..;-)
J
Dear Takeshi,
I do regret I am not able to attend your
Most wonderful Ventriloquist Festival.
We as American's do mourn the loss of the
many lives lost during the World Trade Center
Tragedy.
Also in Hawaii too, we too Mourn the loss
of loved ones in the Ehime Maru Tragedy.
When such tragedies occur, many people from
many walks of life are brought together.
And we all see how fragile and precious life
is.
Though we are all people of different color
or religion.
We all have red blood....we are all male
or female...and we all have to care for one
another as brother and sister.
Though there is sadness in the world.
Life must go one...and continue on...and
it is great because of part of the efforts
of people, volunteers and even ventriloquist's
who bring joy to others. As a ventriloquist,
I think it is my duty to make other's happy.....so
that life can go back to normality.
I hope you and other's have that same joy
I do as a Ventriloquist just to make other's
smile.
My Grandfather always said: It doesn't cost
you anything to say hello, good morning,
and make a friend.....Maybe if the world
were as the Ventriloquist's are ....there
would be less problems in the world... For,
because, a Ventriloquist's life is filled
with Joy and laughter.
Much Love and Aloha to my brother's and sister's
attending the Japan Festival!
M
Dear Ikeda San and All,
Watashi wa Budi desu.
Congratulation to all of you who attend this
First Japan Ventriloquist Festival!
I'm so sorry I couldn't joint with you all
this year.
Hopefully you can learn a lot and enjoy this
Festival.
I will try my best to attend Japan Ventriloquist
Festival somedays.
So keep the good work and don't make this
as the first and the last JVF!
Domo arigato gozaimasta.
Best Regards,
B.Indonesian Ventriloquist 2001 Japan V's Festival Sam Caron Dr C & Elwood
We just returned from Tokyo, and we had a
wonderful time.
Mr. Ikeda organized a wonderful experience
for us all, and it was quite successful for
his first attempt.
There were about 150 ventriloquists in attendance,
and many more people attended the shows.
Americans participating besides me were Randel
McGee, Kerry Summer, Buddy Big Mountain,
and Richard Paul and his two sons.
Stevo was there from Germany and acted as
the emcee and also performed.
There were too many highlights to mention
them all, but I will write about a few.
On Friday night there was a welcoming party
for guests, participants, and staff. All
of us were given beautiful fleece jackets
as gifts.
On Saturday we started with workshops and
shows.
Many of the Japanese vents were excellent,
with good lip control.
Unfortunately, most of the performances were
not translated.
The performers felt that translation broke
their rhythm.
This was also true for the American performers.
The audience appreciated the songs and physical
humor but had a much more difficult time
with dialogue since most of them did not
understand English.
We, on the other hand, had a difficult time
with long dialogues in Japanese.
Noboku Kawakami's Saturday night show was
excellent.
In addition to vent, it included humorous
mime which we all could understand.
The pro show that evening included Kerry
Summers and Buddy Big Mountain.
Kerry combines ventriloquism with magic,
music, impersonations, and his Elvis impersonations.
He was very entertaining and appreciated
by the Japanese audience.
They particularly liked his Elvis impersonation.
As he walked around the audience, women young
and old were spontaneously kissing him.
I guess I am in the wrong business!
He performed two different shows during the
festival.
Buddy Big Mountain's show is both interesting
and unique.
He also performed twice. His ventriloquism
is well done.
Besides ventriloquism, Buddy has made marionettes
of Indian dancers.
He had six of them with him and had them
perform Indian dances.
This was without a doubt a highlight for
everybody.
At the end of the sixth dance, his younger
brother, Buffalo, came on stage in full costume
and danced briefly.
Buffalo's wife is an air force pilot stationed
in Japan.
Both Buddy and Buffalo grew up in show business,
performing Indian dances with their parents
in theme parks and other venues.
Bill Boley was Buddy's mentor.
A highlight on Sunday was Randel McGee's
performance in Japanese.
The children and adults loved it and appeared
to understand most of what he said. I always
enjoy watching Randel and Groark perform,
even though this time I did not understand
any of it.
Another highlight was Nick Paul, Richard's
14 year old son.
He performed a magic show entirely in Japanese.
He had been working on it for over 2 months.
He takes Japanese at school in Michigan.
Again, the Japanese audience was appreciative
of his effort and appeared to understand
him.
Workshops were on topics such as the business
of ventriloquism (Richard Paul), entertaining
children (Randel), Life of Ventriloquism
(Noboru Kawakami), and finally my workshop
on using ventriloquism to educate and counsel
young children.
At this point it is necessary to mention
Dr. Kinoshita, our translator.
He worked well with all of the American workshop
presenters and made it possible for us to
succeed.
I thought that my workshop was quite well
received.
I performed part of one of my vignettes on
ADHD, and Dr. Kinoshita translated throughout.
Maybe because I am not a professional performer,
I was less interested in the rhythm of my
performance and more interested in communicating.
Dr. Kinoshita and I even rehearsed before
my workshop.
I thought that the highlight of my performance
was when I taught Dr. Kinoshita and Elwood
the ADHD song.
I would sing a phrase, Elwood would repeat
it, and then Dr. Kinoshita would sing it
in Japanese.
Hopefully I will be able to get a video of
this since it is probably the most fun I
have ever had performing.
You can view the ADHD song on my website
at http://www.adhd1.net.
I also showed some clips from my videos on
a huge screen, the size of a movie screen.
Because of the size of the screen, I decided
to show Elwood tap-dancing.
No translation was need for this segment.
Finally, I premiered some public service
announcements I have made which are designed
to help children who are having reactions
to the terrorism.
It was the first public viewing of these
30 second pieces.
Hopefully, they will soon start playing on
Tucson TV.
After my workshop, I sold some of my ADHD
tapes.
In fact, I sold almost all of the tapes I
brought with me.
I also brought with me some of my magic chains.
These sold out immediately.
You can see what the chains look like on
my website.
The Japanese loved them.
Finally, on Sunday night, we had one final
party to celebrate a very successful festival.
Besides being invited to participate by Mr.
Ikeda, I was also invited to lecture and
perform for parents of retarded and autistic
children.
Dr. Hara, a pediatrician and special education
professor, not only invited us but also hosted
me and my wife at her home in Tokyo.
We couldn't have had a better host.
My talk to the parents and some children
was a bit tricky.
First the two translators told me that they
did not think that they were proficient enough
to translate.
This did not help my confidence.
Next, when I tried to play some video, the
equipment did not want to work.
Therefore, I decided to perform.
I brought the children up to the front much
to the surprise of the parents who had them
way in the back so that they would not disturb
anybody. Besides performing, I also demonstrated
some concepts using the children.
I was lucky that they responded, and after
that the audience was more open to my talk.
Even my translators decided to translate.
By the end of my talk, many of the parents
were crying, including my translators.
These women don't often get to share their
burden with anybody.
It was a cathartic experience which I will
never forget. Anyway, I am glad that I participated
and will always remember my Japanese experience.
Sincerely,
Sam Caron Dr C & Elwood
http://www.adhd1.net
丂J.V.A.Director Takeshi Ikeda
Who love Ventriloquism! Founded丂on may 1st,
2000.
An association that has been desired through
out the years
has finally been founded.
It is Japan Ventriloquists' Association.
The basic idea of the association is to enhance
the development of ventriloquism, and to
encourage friendship and cultural interactions
through ventriloquism.
The association is for ventriloquists of
all levels, beginners,
amateurs and also professionals, so we can
all strengthen our relationships and exchange information related with ventriloquism.
If the association may contribute to level
up the standard of ventriloquism here in
Japan, it would all be worth the while.
The association plans to participate in various
conventions that may take place overseas.
We would also love to get to know various
professional ventriloquists
from other countries and to enjoy our activity
together.
The association also plans to hold various
events in various locations
through out Japan.
If we could invite ventriloquists from other
countries, so that they may contribute to
the development of ventriloquism fruitful
and successful.
This year, we would like to hold a ventriloquists' Festival
for those
who can't afford to go all the way to the
U.S.A.
丂A Workshop for Japanese Ventriloquists
shall be included within the Festival.
Many volunteer groups shall also participate
in the activities
held by the J.V.A. production company called
"m-3" will back up the association,
and handle various matters, which may concern
the mass-media and the press.
Japan Ventriloquists' Association Inauguration and Development
The Objectives A. To spread and to popularize ventriloquism
in Japan. B. To establish the status of ventriloquism
in Japan, socially,
artistically and financially.
C. To elevate the artistic level of Japanese
ventriloquists.
D. To promote mutual friendship among Japanese
ventriloquists.
Bio /Takeshi Ikeda
For the last thirty-five years he has performed
in more than 800 TV drama episodes on NHK,
NTV, TBS, CXTV, TV-ASAHI, TOKYO-TV, NHK-BS.
Also appeared in Various Commercial messages
both on TV and on radio.
He is a member of the Japan Actor's Union,
the Japan New Drama Movement Actor'sAssociation,
and I.V.A. & N.A.A.V.
He has also been performing publicly for
audiences at Hotels and Parties and Churches
and old people's homes.
25 years ago he became interest in Ventriloquism.
But since attending the '98 Vegas Convention,
he has become real enthusiastic about Ventriloquism.
He said 亀I would like to see ventriloquism
spread throughout my hometown in the future.亁
An association that has been desired through
out the years has finally been founded.
It is Japan Ventriloquists' Association.
Now he is the Chairman J.V.A. And he says
he'd like to get the hearts,
the minds and the spirits of all the members,
together, of this festival. on this festival.
J.V.A. Office
1-5-14 Kanayamacho
Higashikurume-City
Tokyo 203-0003
phone:81-424-71-8275
----------------------------
Japan Ventriloquist's Association
Director Takeshi Ikeda
