In 1864, the vibrant American gymnast and acrobat Richard Risley Carlisle (1814–1874), also known as “Professor Risley,” arrived in Japan with a troupe of ten acrobats and eight horses in tow. The first Western circus to visit Japan, the group performed astounding acrobatic feats that left an indelible impression on its audiences. Risley’s signature act included juggling both objects and his own children on his feet, a move still called the “Risley” today. Certain prints featuring the entertainers describe them as “Central Indian,” likely a marketing tactic Risley employed to exoticize the circus in order to broaden its appeal to the diverse audiences of Yokohama.