TEDxTokyo

Professional Yo-Yo Performer

Black’s professional livelihood hangs by a string—and the young Japanese world yo-yo champion wouldn’t have it any other way. After being crowned the master of yo-yo technique in 2001, Black says he lost his spinning mojo until a video of Cirque du Soleil’s show Dralion inspired him to blend classic ballet, jazz dance and acrobatics into his performances. He rebounded to win the yo-yo world championship in the Artistic Performance division in 2007, and in 2009 passed the audition for Cirque du Soleil.

Black has elevated a simple children’s toy into the centerpiece of a graceful, intricate and kinetic show, and his goal is to spread the yo-yo gospel whenever possible through the media and workshops and seminars.

During TEDxTokyo 2011 Black was interviewed by our backstage live stream team – view the interview here (Japanese only).