Hey, I have a review for 5x5 Japan and I figured you'd want to take a look at it. Here ya go.
(btw it isn't me that reviewed it)
Five Times Five Japan
The Story-
Well, a couple weeks ago my step-mother asked me what I would like her side of the family to get me for Christmas... I told her that I would like Five Times Five Japan. So we drove to her parents' house, and when it came time to open presents... I got my book! I was very excited, and I've just briefly read through it, but it is by far the best book regarding magic that I have.
Overview-
In this book, there are five magicians, and each magician added five effects to the book. So yes, there are only twenty-five effects in this book, but they are all fantastic. So I will briefly describe each effect, and what I think of it, then move on, as I imagine this might get a little lengthy.
Masao Atsukawa-
Four by Four-
This effect is a two-part Coins Across. The first time the coins all travel at once, and then the second time one by one. This effect uses a sleight I've never come across before (of course, I'm not much of a coin guy... more cards for me), but it happens right in front of the spectator's nose, and yet they don't see it.
Like I said before, I'm not much of a coin guy, but I think this effect is ok. I'm sure coin guys will love it... I mainly bought this book for the card stuff.
Four From Nowhere-
While attempting to make a coin travel from his left hand to his right, Atsukawa discovers that the coin has vanished from his left hand, into which he placed it a moment earlier, and appeared on the left side of the table. He looks at it with a mixture of horror and surprise, then picks it up Upon glancing down at the table, he sees that a second coin has appeared. When he picks this coin up, he glances down and sees that a third coin has appeared. When he lifts the third coin, a fourth coin appears.
I actually really like this effect, even though I'm extremely inexperienced with coins, and it will probably take a lot of practice for me to do it, I think for a coin guy it will be fairly easy to perform. But, and I'm sure you'll be tired of hearing this by the end of the review, I'm no coin guy, so I honestly wouldn't know.
Propelled Chinese/Silver-
This is a pretty simple and straightforward effect where a Chinese Coin turns into a silver coin, and back again, then back into a Chinese Coin. It uses The Bullet, and although I'm sure it's a great effect, I don't personally care for it.
Fabric Through Pasteboard-
In front of a large group, the magician holds a black silk in one hand, and a jumbo card in the other., He places the silk in front of the card, then reaches around to the other side of the card and picks at it for a moment. All of a sudden, the silk is sucked through the center of the card, as if through a black hole. The magician pulls the silk back and forth through the card, then hands out both the card and the silk for examination.
You will need to make the gimmick for this effect, but it shouldn't be too awful hard. I do believe, though, that once you get it made, not only will it last you for as long as you need it, but the effect will look absolutely marvelous. This effect is really about the presentation, and really isn't that hard to perform.
The Knotted Letter-
The magician displays a long piece of paper tied in a know. It is explained that, in Japan, this was the traditional way of sending a love letter because of the special power it has. He slowly opens the know, then ties it again. With just a wave, the knot magically disappears. The magician ties the knot again, and places the letter back in his pocket.
I can't really see myself performing this effect, although I do believe it has the potential to be a truly great experience, and also has a great opportunity for awesome patter and presentation. It may take a while to correctly tie the paper, but once you get it, it should last you quite a while.
Tomo Maeda-
Ambitious Clip-
This is for use solely as your Ambitious Card Routine, or just as an ending. You display the signed card, and attach a paperclip to the side of it. It is then placed in the center of the pack, and with a wave of the hand... yes, one hand, the card, with the paperclip still on it, comes to the top. You then place the card in the center of the pack, remove the paperclip, have an audience member push in the card, and place the paperclip onto the top card. The top card is then turned over and found to be the signed selection.
I'm pretty sure that this is the only card effect in the book that doesn't require a gimmick. All you need is a paperclip, a signed card, and an audience willing to be immensely entertained. After reading the effect and explanation, I immediately added it to the end of my ACR.
New Era Moving Pips-
The magician spreads the cards between the pack and has a card selected... the 8 of Diamonds. It is returned to the pack, and the pack is returned to the box. The magician then informs the audience that earlier in the day he placed a prediction where nobody could find it... in the cellophane wrapper of the card case. It is turned over, but it is the 6 of Diamonds, not the 8. However, with just a little wave, two of the pips on the 6 move, and it visually changes into the 8.
This is honestly the reason I bought this book... but I got so much more out of it! But back to the effect. It obviously requires some setup, but once you do it you'll be good to go for quite a while. If you think you have an idea of how to do it... you're probably wrong. My first thought was completely wrong, and I was floored when I read the method. This effect, I think, is worth the cost of the book alone.
Match Transposition-
The magician opens up a matchbook and openly removes a single match. He strikes it against the matchbook, lighting it. He blows it out, and it suddenly changes into a whole row of unlit matches. When the matchbook is opened, a single burned match is discovered inside.
I really like this effect, but I don't have a matchbook to practice with, so I'll have to get my hands on one, practice... and start performing! I really like the "open deceptiveness" of this effect, and how visual it is.
BoxBack-
The deck is removed from the case, which is further placed into the magician's pocket. The deck is spread and the four Aces are outjogged and removed. The magician explains that he'll show them an effect with the four Aces, in a moment, but he wants to do something else first. He does a color change, changing the top card. But then he takes it further and decides to start all over again. And with just a wave of his hand, the deck is once again surrounded by the box, which is removed and again placed in the pocket.
I simply love this effect. Yes, it requires preparation... but it's worth it. I love how you can openly handle the deck, and there's no stiffness or anything. Very open and surprising effect.
Pieces of the Future-
A cardcase is removed from the magician's pocket, and the audience is asked if they want to see a card trick. If they say no, the magician says good and removes a red balloon from the box. If they say yes, the magician says sorry and pulls a red balloon from the box. He blows up the balloon, and pops it with an ice pick. When the balloon is popped, a deck appears in the magician's hand. He spreads through the cards, and has one removed (8 of Hearts in this case), which is shown around, then lost in the deck again. The deck is put away, and through various presentations, it is revealed that two pieces of the popped balloon form an "8" and a heart.
This effect doesn't require a whole lot of setup, but, as you can tell, it is not really suited for the school environment where most people on here, including myself, perform, because you have to have something sharp to pop the balloon with. Obviously, you could use a pencil or something, but you also need a jacked to perform this effect. So if you want to perform this effect at school... think again. Apart from that, though, there is a tad bit of preparation in which you obviously have to cut out the pieces of the balloon to form the "8 of Hearts", but it's really not that hard of an effect. It combines a lot of random elements to make a really neat effect.
Stanley Collins Meets Corinda-
This effect is a really long one, so I won't go over all of it, but, in brief, four rubber bands, one at a time, switch from one finger (which the spectator is hanging on to) to the other... while their eyes are closed, naturally. I really don't care for this effect, and that's why I'm being so brief on it. If someone wants to post a more indepth "explanation" of what the effect looks like, feel free to do so.