Japanese Samurai Don Quixote Challenging…

Hiroshi Shimizu—Cinematheque

I think Hiroshi is the hardest working performer at this Fringe. He can be seen constantly hand-billing and promoting his show at all hours. I didn’t have this one on my radar but it’s my new favorite and I’m very hard to impress after 25 years of heavy Fringing.

This guy delivers! It’s a heartfelt story of how a young Japanese man with barely a grasp of English, ends up at The Edinburgh Fringe. He ignores a request for an interview by the Times, as he thinks it’s a joke, only to find himself having to explain his comedic raison d’être, in hand signals, to a thoroughly puzzled reviewer from that world famous paper.

I loved his explanations of the difference between Japanese and English speakers, and his impression of drunken Scots in a titty bar, one of his first, eye-opening gigs. His stories of his struggles to become a performer and his motivation will move anyone who has faced adversity and won.

His claims to not speak English well are false. He is so eloquent, insightful, and driven and his choice of words shows a deep intelligence and understanding of the human condition.

He’s sure to become a favourite of performers and patrons, alike. Please don’t miss Hiroshi!

Lisa Campbell