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Sad News...

Started by phildunford, Feb 27 2011 05:16 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 phildunford

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Posted 27 February 2011 - 05:16 PM

I've just recieved this from Helix

It looks like Takeo Shimizu passed away a couple of weeks back, here's Mike Swishers post today from Passfire:

It is with great regret that I report that Takeo Shimizu died on February 14. He was 99 years old. This information was conveyed by a Japanese pyrotechnist friend to the Revd. Ron Lancaster this Friday and just today forwarded by him, so I have every confidence in the source.

A sad day, but a great age for the grand old man of fireworks - lets hope something will be done to commemorate him.

Teaching moft plainly, and withall moft exactly, the composing of all manner of fire-works for tryumph and recreation (John Bate 1635)

thegreenman

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#2 Karl Mitchell-Shead

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Posted 27 February 2011 - 05:25 PM

I have a couple of Takeo's books, truly was the modern day fireworks grand master, and absolute fireworks genius and the founder of the many effects and colour that light up our sky today (or tonight...)

A sad loss but his legacy will live forever.

www.illusionfireworks.com - A SKY FULL OF MAGIC!

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#3 Rip Rap

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Posted 27 February 2011 - 06:54 PM

Very sad. But he did have a very full life and was able to feel content that he contributed massively, both scientifically and artistically, to an internationally appreciated art form.
Plus - 99 is not a bad innings!

"Choose a job that you love & you will never do a days work in your life!"

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#4 Vic

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Posted 27 February 2011 - 07:10 PM

I can not tell you the hundreds of times I have opened his book Fireworks the Art Science and Technique
and the sense of anticipation and excitement of learning something from this great man,
this will be tempered by sorrow for me now for a long time to come.

Freud. Artists, in this view, are people who may avoid neurosis and perversion by sublimating their impulses in their work.

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#5 alany

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Posted 27 February 2011 - 09:40 PM

Very saddened to hear this. But his work will live on!

Alan Yates
http://www.vk2zay.net/

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#6 a_bab

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Posted 28 February 2011 - 11:23 AM

Yep. The inspiration for generations of pyrotechnists.

A good reading while on it: http://www.pyroguide...e=Takeo_Shimizu

I don't think it's sad news; when I last saw him interviewed in a documentary I told to myself "he really is old". If he would have died at 60 or so that would have been not only sad but a great loss if not a tragedy for the pyro world. May he rest in piece!

Edited by a_bab, 28 February 2011 - 11:23 AM.

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#7 Potassium chlorate

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Posted 28 February 2011 - 06:15 PM

I just heard it from a friend. It's pretty natural to die at 99, but he was the Emperor of pyrotechnics. Long live his memory!

"This salt, formerly called hyperoxymuriate of potassa, is
used for sundry preparations, and especially for experimental
fire-works."

Dr. James Cutbush

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#8 pyrotrev

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Posted 28 February 2011 - 08:36 PM

Indeed a sad day. I've learnt more from his approach to fireworks - logical and scientific but also appreciating that in the end it's the art that matters - than probably all the other writings I've been through put together! RIP Takeo, I hope someone let off a big shell for him