Misc, Products, Reviews, Viewpoint

….Fushigi….

February 14th, 2010 | Posted by Jonathan E.o.S

Fushigi

A new infomercial has popped up, you can check it out on youtube by just typing in “fushigi’ and “ball”. I refuse to try and post the video here. What fushigi actually is:

A $20 three inch acrylic in a shiny box.

It is hard to put to words how I feel about fushigi. Honestly the guys over at contactjuggling.org have pretty much summed up how I’ve felt since seeing the video. You can follow the thread over at:

http://www.contactjuggling.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7708

I am disappointed that this is happening to the art form that sparked my passion and career in object manipulation. I’m upset fo the most part at two things: first is the rebranding of contact juggling as “fushigi” and second the crushing blow to the spirit of cjing. There has also been some talk about the jugglers that where in the commercial; whether or not they were sell outs. I ain’t going to touch that one.
Now the whole rebranding thing really pisses me off. If it had been a company named “Fushigi” presenting an “acrylic ball” (putting this in the smallest type face possible) that was “perfect for a new craze hitting the world by storm, CJing! Look at the magical amazingness that you can do with the Fushigi ball.” But it wasn’t. In fact they named the ball itself fushigi and went so far as to try to give it the tag line The Magic Gravity Ball. To be far according to the voice of Fushigi over at the forums they are trying to move away from the magic gravity ball thing, but it’s still plastered every where on thei site. Any way the rebranding only has as much power as Fushigi has popularity. At present the likelihood of a child coming up to me and squealing “Mommy! Mommy! He’s Fushigi’ing! I seed that on T.V.” are slim to not. So I’ll reserve myself on this till the future.

But the very spirit of contact juggling has been attacked by Fushigi. There has always been a fine line when using acrylics. From my understanding Micheal Moschen created the routine “light” to honored the passing of a friend. The art form of contact juggling was uniquely created to give a physical representation of life. Till now I had always seen some underlying respect for cjing shared by every single juggler I have met. Fushigi breaks this bond I felt we all had. It isn’t about the commercialization of acrylics; every juggling site and store sells acrylics now. It is about respect and honor which Fushigi is completely lacking. They have made an effort by going on to the forums and speaking with the community, but it looks hollow to me. Their websites even warns you to beware of imitators; like all other acrylic balls are knock-offs of Fushigi.

I don’t feel like I can ever use acrylics again and I am currently trying to get rid of mine. I’m not going to stop contact juggling; I can’t! I love juggling, it’s become my life. But I can’t pick up an acrylic. Fushigi has sucked the dignity out of acrylic contact juggling in hopes to siphon money off of uninformed people to create a new fad. The art has become a damned SHAM-WOW or a bloody Showtime Rotisserie, “Just Set It and Forget It!”. Fushigi “Magic Gravity Ball!” I for one am going over to firetoys and getting their cj stage ball.

Comments

NoDexterityGuy
February 14th, 2010
Oh contact… SHAM WOW!
wikipedo
February 14th, 2010
Don’t worry about it.
those 100 people worldwide who will buy it and not get frustrated in 2 days and give up will learn soon enough the proper name is contact juggling.
It’s like saying Bic instead of pen or Spa instead of water or… well I don’t know what brandnames sometimes take over the real word in the US or wherever you’re at.
Maybe you call coke( the beverage) Pepsi ?
Caro
February 15th, 2010
I think getting rid of your acrylic ball is a little much. I agree the situation sucks, but it’ll pass. Devil stick and diabolo were a bit of a fad in the 90s, but it didn’t last long, so even if this manages to get some popularity (doubtful) it’s not like it’s going to stay that way.
Jonathan E.o.S
February 16th, 2010
Yes but neither devil stick or diabolo had quite the same start as contact juggling. Or as much controversy surrounding its original jump to popularity.
Van Dan
February 19th, 2010
Let me start by agreeing with you by saying the commercialization of contact juggling, especially the intentionally attempt at rebranding it to ‘Fushigi-ing’ is truly a sad sight to witness. But that’s all it is, a sad, sad attempt to peddle some wears to consumers.

To be quite frank, its this sort of pretentiousness presented in this article that I can’t stand in the community. You speak of some sort of ‘underlying respect’ for contact juggling that is shared almost metaphysically by all jugglers. Honestly, I find that a hard statement to swallow. Ever been to a Renaissance Faire? You’re telling me those guys in tights, peddling acrylics as ‘Ye Olde Magical Spheroid’ are somehow paying homage and respecting the spirit of Moschen’s original vision?

He may have indeed created the routine to honor and represent life itself, but as with any medium, time will cause changes. Just as there is room for many types of performances, from the banal to the truly inspiring, there is room for this product too. I personally don’t really agree with the rebranding, but I can see how the marketing might well be effective. :shrug: That’s capitalism for you, love it or hate it.

Let me assert something that may well get me hated by contact jugglers, but I call it like I see it:

There is no ’spirit of contact juggling’.

No such metaphysical connection between people exists. You can refer to trends in contact juggling that you feel are more or less in line with Moschen’s original concept and vision, but there is no universal spirit. There is no universal contact juggling credo. Many people get into it for many different reasons and will use it to many different effects.

Your rant sounds a bit like Jason Garfield’s rant against clowns and fire jugglers; people he considers to be hacks and bringing down the sport of juggling. Does he have a point? Sure, but let me say it again: there is room in the juggling community for every single type of juggler, be them the guy who juggles three oranges at a party to impress the ladies, the guy juggling fire on the beach, the technical juggler or the artistic one. I may not like it, I may not watch or support all of them, but I have to at least give them room. Juggling is not my art. It doesn’t belong to me, so I don’t get to say what is or is not ‘true’ juggling.

Maybe the contact community is different though. I’m not a really active contact juggler myself, but I know and practice a bit and this post struck a chord with me. This sort of elitism within any form of object manipulation is the last thing we need.

I understand you’re hurt. I understand you feel betrayed and defensive of your style of contact juggling. But these Fushigi folks shouldn’t make you change what you are doing. Don’t give up acrylics just because someone has challenged what you think contact juggling should be. If anything, this should make you keep on doing exactly what you have been doing. If everyone in your camp gives up on acrylics, then this vision you’re trying to protect is going to absolutely die.

I hope maybe you’ll reconsider. If not, feel free to send those acrylics my way. I’ll even pay for shipping and send you a shirt back that says “Fushigi Stole My Balls”. Yes, yes they did.
JH
March 17th, 2010
Jon, can you drop me an email?

Thanks!
K
May 11th, 2010
Elitism over contact juggling? how pathetic, how dare something through media format be made available to more people.. heaven forbid some kids see this and want to get off their fat asses and go outside with one and enjoy.
doubting thomas
June 12th, 2010
Most of the people who buy it will be disappointed, and sales will quickly drop off. In a few months, you’ll be able to pick these up for $5 at a clearance store. Then you can stock up!
Nina
July 21st, 2010
I was furious over this. I have been contact juggling for over a year already and this has pissed me off quite a lot. I cant even CJ in public anymore without having someone say, LOOK, ITS FUSHIGI!!
Anonymous
July 30th, 2010
I’m irritated with it as well, but I can understand the marketing scheme… Why is increasing popularity in something that contact jugglers love a bad thing?

Best solution I see to a person saying ‘Hey it’s Fushigi’ to you on the street? Tell them ‘No, it’s contact Juggling…. Fushigi is one brand of ball you can use. Do you want me to show you?’ Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve noticed that if you’re friendly and encouraging with people, you get a pretty good response… and it fights against the rebranding that has everyone upset. Just me though I guess.

Also, an interesting note for anyone who cares? You have to give them credit for what they chose to call it. Fushigi in Japanese means mysterious/mystical…. if they had to pick something to attempt a rebranding, at least it’s something that, to an extent, captures the visual aspect of contact juggling.
RzaDaHut
August 9th, 2010
It is very similar to footbaging being called hacky-sak. hacky sack is the brand, footbag(ing) is the sport/ball. I do, however, think that the Fushigi balls give off a rather more mysterious look do to its reflective center sphere. Does no one else think that’s sweet?
Dockalpannott
September 9th, 2010
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