A Day with the Fushigi

Another Christmas just passed and I find myself bequeathed with one "As Seen on TV"Fushigi courtesy of my cousin, her cousin, and her daughter. I tend to be very cautious about anything that is advertised as "As Seen on TV." Never one to regift and always ready to actually try something out before adding it to the pile of discarded or unwanted toys known as Mt. Crapmore. So I spent a day trying out this Fushigi toy

The Fushigi is a ball designed for contact juggling just like the David Bowie scenes from the "Labyrinth" film and the contact juggles I see during the Renaissance Faire and Dickens Faire. Instead of traditional tossing the balls, clubs, or other series of objects around, contact juggling keeps the ball in general contact with the body-hence the name "contact juggling," The ball just seems to glide along the body based on the skill of the juggler

The Fushigi package consists of the titular Fushigi ball, a display stand, a cloth sack for transport, and an instructional DVD. The ball is a steel ball encased in clear acrylic that claims to be perfectly balanced for contact juggling and will not shatter if dropped. The clear acrylic gives the illusion of a floating ball when juggled in the right light. To prevent chipping or denting of the Fushigi while practicing with it, play with it on top of carpet and avoid tile and concrete. As I toss and feel the Fushigi in my hand, the ball feels nicely balanced albeit very heavy.

I almost lost the Fushigi to the TSA during the screening process. The X-Ray machine mistook it for a suspicious device given the fact the steel ball shape may look like a bomb. After opening the box and telling them someone really bought me a Fushigi for Christmas, I finally got to test it out at a well-carpeted house.

The instructional DVD explains the Fushigi and features several chapters of tricks anyone can do with a little practice and free time. My past attempts at contact juggling with tennis balls helped me get the hang of the heavier ball minus one break I needed to take when it slipped from my hands and I thought the resulting drop resulted in a broken foot. Patience and practice are the key to mastering the floating effect... not that I had either. After about two hours I eventually had to give up any attempts to mastering the Fushigi because the dog I was watching in the house became utterly fascinated with the ball and kept trying to take it off my hand. I do give the Fushigi credit-that dog hates tennis balls but loves playing fetch with the Fushigi even when I am not playing.

So is the Fushigi worth it as a contact juggling ball? I would say yes, but it never is as easy as it is seen on TV.