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K. T. Kuma

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K. T. Kuma (February 4, 1884 - March 27, 1963) was born in Seoul, Korea as Kinjiro Tanko Kumjaro. Though born in Korea, he was Japanese.

He began magic at the age of 5 as an apprentice to a Japanese magician and became a professional performing in 1892. He moved to the USA in 1904 and was known at that time as Kim Yen Soo. During World War II he claimed he was a Korean.

According to Tenkai Ishida's autobiography (Tenkai was a close friend of Kuma's ), Kuma told him that he first joined a certain Japanese circus troupe when it visited to perform in Korea. After he married with a Japanese, he left the circus to learn some magic. He then went to England where a large Japanese exhibition or some kind of world fair was held, sent by a event promoter, along with other several dozen performing artists. After that, he went to USA.

He is credited with the invention of the Kuma Tubes, but mostly was performing a very old trick.

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