Could Japan have its own Cirque du Soleil?

When the circus comes to town in most parts of the world these days, you won't see elephants, tigers or clowns with big red noses.

Since Canada's animal-less Cirque du Soleil took to the road in 1984 with its character-driven shows and nonstop live music, we have seen the emergence of what has become known as contemporary circus. Montreal-based Cirque is now the biggest theatrical producer in the world.

Audiences in Japan have packed out several Cirque tours, and have flocked to similar performances by groups from elsewhere in Canada, as well as France and Vietnam. During summer holidays many smaller performance troupes from home and abroad also run scaled-down circus-type shows, festivals and workshops for students.