Princess Tenko: conjuror of pure mystery

The life of illusionist Tenko Hikita -- better

known as Princess Tenko -- is veiled in mystery.

Born and raised in what she will only identify as a

"snow-deep city in Japan," Hikita will not disclose her real name or

birth year because, she says, of "various contractual

conditions.''

Those apparently include one with Barbie doll-maker Mattel

Inc. that requires her to look 24 years old forever. Others, with TV

production company Saban Entertainment and her production companies,

seemingly restrict her to only marrying U.S. citizens -- and even set

the precise length of her bangs in millimeters.

But long before those veils descended, Hikita's big break

came after she enrolled with a relative's talent agency as a teenager.

Then, in 1977, she was suddenly asked to stand in for another of the

agency's members, the famous magician Tenko Hikita, after he suffered a

heart problem.

It was through performing one of the maestro's acts --

"The Great Escape from a Fiery Aerial Cable Car," in which she was

suspended upside-down and bound with ropes inside a burning gondola --

that Hikita first shot to fame. A year later, in 1978, she debuted as a

singing magician named Mari Asakaze, whose first single, "The Magic,"

was followed the next year by "Kuseni Narukara (It's Going to be a

Habit).''

Then, when Tenko Hikita passed away in 1980, Hikita was

asked to take over his name, and to perform illusions and dangerous

escape tricks full time.

But with success came animosity, and the young Hikita was

attacked for being cheeky and "too young to take over such a big name."

Tired of the pettiness, she left Japan in 1986 when Bill and Irene

Larsen, who ran The Magic Castle in Hollywood -- a famed venue for

magicians -- asked her to move to the United States.

The following year, Hikita spread her international wings

even further when she performed at the Cabaret de Champs-Elysees in

Paris. After that, in 1988, she starred in both NBC's "Magic Kingdom"

and ABC's "Incredible Sunday" shows on U.S. TV.

Such worldwide and small-screen exposure clearly didn't go

unnoticed, because in 1990 Hikita was honored by the U.S. Academy of

Magical Arts and Sciences with the title Magician of the Year --

previous holders included such big shots as David Copperfield, Doug

Henning and Siegfried & Roy.

As her fame continued to snowball, in one month in 1994

Hikita drew an audience of 165,000 to her shows at Radio City Music Hall

in New York. Then, in 1995, she said that a series of eight Princess

Tenko dolls launched by Mattel sold 8 million in the first season. Not

to be outdone, Saban Entertainment created "Princess Tenko and the

Guardians of the Magic," a TV cartoon series that soon shot to third

spot in the U.S. cartoon-viewing ratings, according to Hikita's

agency.

Such successes led to a host of foreign invitations,

including to North Korea, Brunei and Monaco, to perform for heads of

state and royalty, Hikita said.

In fact, among her most ardent fans is the North Korean

leader Kim Jong Il, who owns all eight Princess Tenko dolls and built a

theater in Pyongyang bearing her name, Hikita said. Nonetheless, during

two trips there in 1998 and 2000, she said she was kept under virtual

house arrest -- and was then mysteriously followed after

returning to Japan.

As to the burning question of romance, Hikita has often

hinted about having glamorous relationships -- including one in which

she announced that marriage was imminent with a Hollywood celebrity.

Although many of her claims cannot be verified, the Japanese media long

believed her lover to be Belgium-born Hollywood star Jean-Claude Van

Damme -- until he strongly denied it in 2001.

Whatever the truth of all that, Hikita appears to have

plenty of other fish to fry. Not only is she on record saying that

billionaires and members of royalty have made her offers of marriage,

but that their proffered tokens of appreciation for her performances

have also included gold, precious stones and even an oil

field.

Astounding, for sure -- but so are her shows. During a

recent Tokyo performance, this writer and a Japan Times photographer

both strained our eyes for the first 30 minutes trying to figure out her

"tricks." But try as we did to see through it all, she really just

seemed to disappear at times, or float -- or teleport various objects.

After a while we gave up, and simply savored the

spectacle.

Although a white stretch limo sat ticking over outside the

studio in Shinjuku throughout our recent interview, there was nothing

but friendliness and cute giggles from the Princess herself -- and only

the slightest of tension when her manager occasionally intervened on

sensitive "scoops" she bestowed about her love life and times spent with

Kim Jong Il.

As a young girl, you wanted to be an actress. Was there no

conflict in yourself when you were encouraged to become an illusionist

instead?

There was. At that time, Pink Lady [a female singing and

dancing duo] was very popular, so my agency decided to launch me as a

girl who could sing, dance and perform magic at the same time. But my

image of magic was spooky -- like something carried out by a

Dracula-like man and a woman wearing a long dress. It was far from an

occupation I wanted to pursue. As a young girl, I also had problem about

taking over a man's name. So I said that if I had to do magic, I wanted

to do it in my own way -- with music I like, costumes I like, and magic

I like. I was told I was the only one in Japan's entertainment world who

made such demands, but I'm glad I did, as it's a matter that has decided

my life.

Are you now able to work in the way you

like?

Yes. I wanted to do all the stage direction, like in shows in

Las Vegas or New York, so it's good that I can do everything in my own

way.

How did you feel when you were named Magician of the Year

in 1990?

I was really surprised I got such a big prize. But what

surprised me most was that many reporters, like from CNN or NBC, asked

me why I thought I got the prize, which mostly goes to white male

magicians. Up until now, I understand there has still been no other

female winner, and I think it's amazing I got it.

In Japan at the time, though, no one knew about the award,

and even Academy and Emmy awards were only just beginning to be

recognized. The minds of Japanese people in show business are still

quite behind.

According to your agency, you do 300 shows in 200 days per

year and earn about 15 million yen per show -- but you never rehearse,

despite the complexity of your performance. What other special

characteristics do your shows have?

Some people who come along have visual or hearing handicaps,

and I'm proud that we have equipment to convey to them what's going on

through special sounds, light, vibrations and variations in air

flow.

Another specialty is speed. My show has been dubbed as being

like a bullet, or "machine-gun magic." We do it in a way that makes

audiences catch their breath, because I perform some of the illusions in

45 seconds, while it takes 20 minutes for some other

illusionists.

You are sometimes described as living on chocolate and

staying 24 years old forever. Do you really eat so much chocolate -- and

do you lose at least 3 kg during each show, as it's been

reported?

I like chocolate very much. But I sweat a lot -- I run around

not just on stage, but also behind. I also have to worry about a lot of

things, not just whether I function well, but whether all the equipment

is working and other people perform well. There is a special training,

called happo in karate, that's taught me to know what's going on

all around me even when I'm looking straight ahead. It's difficult to

work in this field if you can't do that. I must sense immediately, even

behind me, if someone has moved or made a mistake.

So during a performance, my nerves are alert all the way to

the tips of my hair and nails -- that's why I lose about 3 kg.

Although you are always smiling on stage, you have

compared yourself to a swan that looks elegant but is desperately

paddling underwater. As you have been taken to the hospital in an

ambulance five times following onstage accidents, that seems quite

apt.

On stage, I warp from one spot to another, but human beings

can't really warp, right? When I'm gone, it means I'm running where the

audience can't see me. But if I'm wheezing when I reappear, they'd know

I was running -- so I must look totally composed. The media thought for

a long time that I had a twin sister.

Accidents happen, and I often have to perform with broken

bones, as actors have stand-ins but not me. For example, a couple of my

ribs cracked onstage at Radio City when the equipment on my upper body

functioned but not that on my lower body. But my American manager, who

looks like Marlene Dietrich, said with a poker face: "Of course you'll

do it, right? It's a contract." So I completed my monthlong run wearing

a flat plaster cast.

Is it really true that your contracts with Mattel, Saban

Entertainment and your promoters require you to remain looking 24 years

old like the dolls made after you, and restrict who you can

marry?

Contracts with each company are as thick as 2 meters. With

Mattel it's mostly about the way I look, like hairstyle, hair color,

weight, figure and skin color. That with Saban has a lot to do with name

usage.

Manager: They are both lifetime contracts, so she has to

maintain her looks for life. She can only marry a U.S. citizen according

to the contract, as U.S. children believe from the cartoon that

she is an American superstar.

What happens if you violate the contract?

There will be a penalty.

Like in the billions?

Manager: More than that.

Princess Tenko and Tenko Hikita are supposed to have

different characters -- like Tenko Hikita doesn't talk or laugh, or make

friends. Who determined this, and what are their other

differences?

The character of Tenko Hikita was determined when I took over

the magician's name. Princess Tenko is a character developed in the

U.S., and the promotion company decided the character.

Tenko Hikita is a stoic woman who performs escape tricks

risking her life. As magicians must be mysterious, she cannot talk or

make friends.

Princess Tenko is an idol and heroine and never carries out

dangerous escape acts which children might imitate.

Don't you get confused between the two?

I'm used to it now.

Who are you today?

When I can talk, I'm Princess Tenko.

As you are so restricted by contracts, do you ever feel

like quitting?

Yes. But because I always have work the next day, I've

learned to control myself thanks to all the support I have had in the

U.S.

In Japan, I was often driven into a corner without help and

felt I couldn't breathe anymore. But in the U.S., as long as I can

attract audiences and maintain high viewing ratings they always take

care of me, and that works for me.

Apparently, women in your U.S. audiences love it when you

pull a big stunt using many male assistants, whereas Japanese men like

it when you look relieved after performing a dangerous illusion. Do you

make these distinctions on purpose?

Always. What people like in the U.S. often doesn't work in

Japan, and vice versa. Even when my escape act is perfect, Japanese men

hate it if I show off or act like a power woman. If I act like it was

really tough and difficult, they think, "Poor girl. I must protect her"

-- and then they give me lots of applause (laughs).

On the other hand, in countries with an unfortunate history

with Japan, like China or Korea, I am careful not to use costumes like

old Japanese armor that may remind people of past wars.

Female Japanese fans in their teens seem to admire you for

your looks and fashion, while those in their late 20s and up see you as

a symbol of career-building -- being independent and successful abroad.

How do you feel about that?

I think you get stuck if you stay in Japan all the time. The

women who see me and like me get interested in overseas issues, which I

think is good for them. When I'm on TV, for example, I try to talk about

overseas as much as possible to raise their interest.

So now to that topic. It has been reported

many times since 1995 that you are going out with a Hollywood star and

nuptials are imminent. Is that so?

Princess Tenko gets set to vanish from inside a box . . . and then reappear.

Well . . . it's going well. But like many couples, we must

respect each other's work.

Is it the same person as the one from

1995?

Well . . . at that time, I had not just one or two, but quite

a few relationships . . . all with people in the entertainment

world.

Does that mean you are not discussing marriage with one

particular person?

That also happens. Sometimes I'm in a marriage-oriented mood,

and then we may be talking about it.

So do you get proposals from many different people, and

discuss marriage with each?

That's right. As I do 300 shows at different locations every

year, I get into long relationships with different people at different

places.

You have said that your honeymoon will be in space, and

that you were being trained in Russia for a $20-million orbital space

tour. Your partner isundecided, but would any of them join you in

space?

In fact, one of them is actually training to go to

space.

Does that mean you will marry that

person?

If we do go on honeymoon, that will be the case.

Is it true that billionaires and members of royalty ask

you to perform for them, and then offer you bars of gold, precious

stones, and even oil fields and marriage as a reward?

Yes. In our (entertainment) world, big gifts are

common.

Who was the person who offered marriage?

There were quite a few, but I can't tell you who as they are

still alive. Many are from Asia. There was also one from

Africa.

How do you refuse their offers?

I don't. It's too scary. I tell them that I'll visit again

and we'll talk. I keep a mobile phone hotline for each, and I record a

new message every week. I call back when I get an emergency call.

It is also said that you own about 50 luxurious houses

around the world. Is that so?

I perform in many countries, and once there, I stay for one

or two months. It gets stressful in a hotel because I don't have my own

things, so there's a house in every location where I perform. It's

handy, because I can leave costumes, like my kimono, and I don't have to

carry them around.

Princess Tenko astride a sliced-up assistant

Which house is your favorite?

The one in Las Vegas is my favorite. I have many animals,

like a white tiger and a mountain lion. I can relax with them there.

Your pets' feed is said to cost 3 million yen a month. Is

that right?

It's probably more. I also have a kinkajou (kind of raccoon),

two white lions, eight horses, a Serval cat (African wild cat) and a

dozen dogs. Lots of them.

Apparently you also have a Punsan dog from Kim Jong Il, a

protected species in North Korea. Is it true that it is the brother of

the dog offered to former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung?

Yes. I was told they are brothers.

You visited art festivals in North Korea in 1998 and 2000.

Is it true that Kim Jong Il is an avid fan and has all eight Princess

Tenko figures?

(She nods)

According to some reports, you have not met Kim

Jong Il in person. Is that true?

I did meet him.

Why have you not revealed in other interviews that you met

him?

North Korean officials kept telling me that the country is at

war, and that I can reveal official things but not unofficial things.

They kept saying, "Now it's official" . . . and then, "Now it's not." In

the end it became confusing. I was also afraid that what I said could

have serious consequences, so I decided to tell all the media at the

time that I didn't see him.

Is it OK to reveal that now?

Manager: At that time, North Korean relations were even

more sensitive than now, with most media not even writing about it. At

that time, it was like a taboo, but the situation has

changed.

What did you talk about with Kim Jong Il?

Well, about the world of entertainment and about illusion . .

. but also ordinary things. He was very interested in Japan. He seemed

to have thought I was American, and he praised me for my success in the

U.S. despite being Japanese.

The Sankei Shimbun in Japan reported that North Korean

officials talked to you about political matters during your 2000 visit

-- like the fact that they were not planning to discuss the withdrawal

of U.S. troops from South Korea in the summit planned later that year.

Did that not make you uneasy? What else did they say?

Yes, it made me uneasy. They said other things too, which

became a reason for TV companies to follow me. But I think the matter is

a bit too sensitive to talk about.

Were you also approached by Japanese

politicians?

Yes. I spoke to top-level people in each political party, and

to the person in charge of advising the prime minister. I told them what

I thought I could.

Princess Tenko acknowledges the audience's applause.

Was a theater bearing your name really built in

Pyongyang?

It was almost ready in 2000. The difference between regular

theater and this one was that it has many features that can be used for

illusions, like secret doors. They showed me all those.

What was it called?

They called it the Princess Tenko Theater.

In 2006, U.S.-based GQ magazine claimed that your passport

was taken away during your visit to North Korea in 1998, and that they

didn't let you leave.

Manager: It was a similar situation in 2000. Both times,

her return to Japan was drastically delayed.

Did they say you couldn't leave?

Yes. But the first time (1998) wasn't so bad. They let me go

after I said I would return in a few months, and that I needed my own

stuff.

But strange things apparently started to happen after you

refused to visit in 1999.

There were phone calls where someone tells me to go to North

Korea, and two men pretending to be policemen tried to take me

away.

It has also been reported that a replica of a high-value,

antique Mickey Mouse that was stolen from your car in 1998 was

mysteriously placed in you home.

Yes.

Did the police determine these were North Korean

plots?

That's what they said.

Manager: From 1998 to 2000 there was less information

about the North, and what she saw or experienced was not well known to

the rest of the world. In that sense, many intelligence agencies -- from

Japan, the U.S., China, South Korea and Europe -- tried to get in touch

with her.

Japanese police concluded that was the case, but private

citizens like us have no access to the truth.

But then you went again in 2000.

In 2000 there was lots of pressure, including on my family,

for me to visit the North. I couldn't cause my family trouble, so I

thought I should go and talk. For my protection, I borrowed a TV camera

from TV Asahi and broadcast what I was doing there. But again, my stay

ended up being long.

There was a report that you fell seriously ill during your

2000 visit.

It was a big mental shock to hear that they would not let me

leave. I asked to see Norbert Vollertsen, a German doctor I also met in

1998. He said that I should stop using the medicine or drips that were

given to me, and he gave me German medicine. But North Korean officials

got angry and he had to leave. My condition worsened and I couldn't

stand up anymore, so I had to stay in hospital there for a

month.

Why did they say you couldn't leave?

The complete lineup of Princess Tenko dolls, of which 8 million units sold within months after they were launched by Mattel Inc. in 1995. The dolls are based on a Princess Tenko U.S. TV cartoon series made by Saban Entertainment, in which the heroine vanquishes villains before Princess Tenko herself appears at the end of each episode and performs an illusion or shows how to do a magic trick. PHOTO COURTESY OF PRINCESS TENKO

They said that in the North there is a theater where I could

work, a place to live, a maid -- and I could live comfortably. So they

said there was no need whatsoever for me to leave.So how did you manage to leave in the end?I said in a very straightforward manner that I promised to

return in one month, but there was work I had to do in Japan. I also

said there was voiceover work for a U.S. animation that couldn't be done

by anyone else.Did you get chased after that?Yes, for a long time. There have also been scary things. I

had police and security protect me.Will you go to North Korea again?I don't go now because there is no need for me to go.Is it also because you might not be able to come

back?Possibly.Finally, do you think there will be another Tenko Hikita

to succeed you?One male Tenko Hikita, then a female Tenko Hikita; I think

it's complete.Manager: She is in a "Hitori Takarazuka-jotai

(Single-person Takarazuka situation)" -- referring to the Kansai theater

comprising many flashy actresses. She is the only star -- forever.