ɶɶImportant Note:

4-D CROSS T-290 The internal gimmick is extremely thin and has been constructed with precision.
Refrain from applying excess force. Also do not leave the gimmick in its open
position for extended periods of time. Do not leave the other rod (or other objects)
Two rods are displayed – each has a key attached. inside of the open hole for extended periods of time. The gimmick’s shape may
The first rod is inserted into a cross-shaped tube. become irreversibly altered, and may not return to its correct position.

The second rod is pushed perpendicularly into the

Hole
side opening, and…
Amazingly it penetrates through the first rod, even
though there is absolutely no space for it to fit!
The two rods form an impossible “X” formation.
Both rods are exactly the same size and shape, and
they couldn’t possibly pass through one another.
Yet they have?!?
The magician removes both rods from the tube, BASIC PRESENTATION
and shows the spot where they penetrated. There
is nothing unusual to see. • Hold one rod in each hand, and display them to your audience. Hold
the gimmicked rod from below with your left hand so that the slit is
This magic is incredibly mysterious since it creates a condition that is hidden by your left thumb and first finger. Turn your hands up and
physically impossible. Thanks to a clever gimmick hidden in one of the down to show all sides of the rods.
rods, you are able to perform this wonderful feat of magic.

PROPS INCLUDED

• 2 Rods (a gimmick is hidden inside one of them. Read below for a

clear explanation)
• 2 Chains
• 2 Keys
• 1 Cross-shaped Tube
Gimmicked Rod

PREPARATION
Audience View
Connect one chain and one key to each of the rods, through the end
holes. The purpose of the chains in this trick is to silently dispel the idea • Place the ungimmicked rod onto the table, and pick up the tube with
that the length of the rods can change. Feel free to hang your own keys your right hand as shown in the illustration. The small semi-circle mark
or a decorative mascot on the chains, if you wish. must point to the right.
One surface of the rod contains a line of small text. Turn the rod so
the text faces toward you, and insert the rod into the tube opening
located opposite the small semi-circle mark. As the rod emerges
from the opening with the mark, you will feel some tension. Continue
pushing nevertheless.

Mark

As you can see, one of the rods contains a slit on two of its surfaces.
This rod is the “gimmicked rod.”
Text
Grip the end of the gimmicked rod on the two surfaces that do not
contain the chain hole. Pull outward, and you will see a square opening
appear to the left and right of the slit. Relax your grip, and the hole will
automatically close.
 Stop pushing the rod when the right end of the text lines up with the
opening of the tube.

Audience View
Push up to here
• Keeping the extended gimmick hidden behind your fingers, rotate the
• Hold both ends of the rod between both hands. Your left fingers must penetrated rods and show them from all sides.
hold the two surfaces of the rod that do not contain the chain hole. In
this condition, hold the tube up to your audience’s eye level, and rotate
both wrists so that they can look inside the open hole of the tube. They
will be able to see the side of the rod, as expected.

Audience View
• Pull out the ungimmicked rod and place it onto the table. Do not release
the extended gimmick yet; leave it in the open position.
• Rotate the rod so that the tube’s hole is pointing up toward the ceiling.
Continue rotating the tube, but as the rod returns to its original posi-
tion, secretly pull the gimmicked end. The square hole at the center
of the rod is now open inside the tube.
Lightly grip the gimmicked end with your middle finger, and hide the
extended portion from view using your remaining fingers.

• Regrip the rod at its ends with both hands, as you did before. Rotate
the tube so that your audience can see inside of the hole. Extend your
hands toward the audience as you turn the tube. Under cover of this
large action, relax the fingers that have been gripping the gimmick
and allow the hole to close.
Hide here Line of sight

Audience View

• Pick up the other rod with your right hand, and push it into the tube Your audience will be able to clearly see the rod passing through the tube.
through the bottom hole. The rod will pass all the way through, and • Slide the gimmicked rod out from the tube. When the slits on the rod
out the other side. emerge, cover them with your fingertips so they remain hidden from view.
• Place the tube onto the table, and pick up the other rod with your
free hand. Holding one rod in each hand, casually show them to your
ɶɶImportant Note:
audience, to end.
If the gimmicked rod is not correctly aligned, the second rod will contact the side
of the gimmicked rod. In this case, adjust the position of the gimmicked rod, and
try pushing the second rod again.
ADDITIONAL HANDLING WITH PENCIL
After you have removed the ungimmicked rod at the end of the BASIC
PRESENTATION, you can continue by passing a pencil (or other similar
object) through the tube.
In this handling, you also will allow your spectator to casually touch the
middle of the gimmicked rod. This strengthens the impact of the magic,
and gets them even more personally involved.
• After removing the ungimmicked rod and showing the inside of the
tube to your audience, push out the gimmicked with your right thumb,
until your thumb is in contact with the tube. Be careful not to push
the rod any further, or the gimmicked slit will become visible on the
opposite end.

The slit is off-center so your audience will be unable to see it in this position.

• Invite your spectator to touch the extended body of the rod. They will
get the impression that they are touching the part of the rod that had
been penetrated moments ago, and can confirm that there is no damage.
Spectator’s hand

• Return the rod to its previous position, and secretly open the gim-
micked hole.
• Insert a pencil through the bottom hole, and move it back and forth
several times. Your audience will be surprised to see the penetration
happen again, moments after they examined the rod.

• Finish your performance in the same manner as described in the BASIC

PRESENTATION by removing the pencil, showing the inside of the tube
to your audience, and removing the gimmicked rod from the tube.

FINAL NOTES
There are countless magic tricks in which one solid object penetrates
through another solid object. However, it is rare for both objects to be
identical in size and thickness, as we have realized in 4-D CROSS. When
the two rods are in their criss-crossed position, the audience can look
extremely closely but there is nothing to see. The only thing they can
do is imagine what mystery might lie at the unseen point of penetration. ©2019 TENYO
Practice the steps explained in these instructions and get ready to wow Created by Toru Suzuki
your audiences with this impossible feat of magic. English instructions by Steve Cohen
Illustrations by Nariyuki Yoshihara