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This Japanese wrestling act was part of the Barnum and Bailey’s show and was thirteen minutes long on the full stage.
The Royal Mikado have been brought over from Europe for the show. The performers do some fast Japanese wrestling and Jiu Jitsu. The act opens with two slim girls who do jiu jitsu with the male wrestlers. There is then a male-only wrestling tournament, in which the winner of each match faces the next person. The closing is a fight between the entire troupe, two at a time.
There are some laughs when contestants fall down, both intentionally and unintentionally. "When the circus season is over the Royal Mikado Athletes will make a first class vaudeville act."
Source:
Variety 26:4 (30/03/1912)