Watch this Japanese illusionist/street magician

[fishlipsmcgee]

Watch this Japanese illusionist/street magician at work. Apparently he's a young guy who disguises himself as a elderly man. This guy is GOOD.

Does anyone know anything about this guy?  Do you think it is a setup or film edit or is this guy really this good?

This takes a few minutes to watch, it's about 5 minutes long (two episodes) but it's worth viewing.  http://images2.jokaroo.net/videos/grandpajapan.wmv
   

[Timgod]

He's very good at physical stunts. He uses that as a way to change what you are watching. He uses the cameraman to help perform his magic tricks though. Notice how they zoom to the white poster and then the cola is on the floor next to his hat. It was likely that it was in his hat or jacket. But with the zoom in you cannot see. On the sidewalk where he changes it back to paper/plastic watch it slow. There is a pause the third time his left hand goes off camera toward the cameraman so he can be handed the plastic one. Also the camera zooms to the point where you cannot see the bottom of the bottle/ plastic picture so it could easily by dropped out of view without "us" seeing it.

[karen J]

That was great. I really liked the expressions on his audience's faces. I wish I understood Japanese, it sounded like the commentary was funny as well. It's amazing how far he can lean over without falling.

[fishlipsmcgee]

Timgod, do you think the people on the bus were in on it and just acted amazed when he produced the drink can from the poster?  It did look like the can fell out of his hat but the picture of the can also disappeared from the ad poster.  What about the people's reaction at the amusement park when he "sneezed his head off?"     Maybe these are illusions that just work on film and would not work in front of a live audience.  On the other hand, I have seen some pretty amazing illusions live on stage.  Any armature magicians out there that can give us a hint how these illusions are performed?

[Timgod]

No, I believe they were a real audience. The sneeze trick looked like some sort of armature to keep the jacket in place. The head slide was just more of his amazing physical dexterity. If a magician/illusionist is doing his job correctly, he has you looking where he wants and when he wants. The trick is to watch where they do not want you to see. I have always been fascinated by magic and the way to figure it out when possible.