The authors appreciate that this research is supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 11878026, 1999-2000.

Mechanisms of KARAKURI dolls

Japan imported modern machine industrial technology from Europe and America during the Meiji era (1868-1912), and the education models such as the above regarded as examples. However, in Japan there were KARAKURI dolls, which moved automatically using a weight (mercury) or a spring, in the Edo era (1603-1868), and they were performed to and won a favorable reception with the population. What we should pay attention to is that essentially the same mechanisms as described above were included in those KARAKURI dolls.
Some KARAKURI dolls were restored recently, and are demonstrated at museums. Here, the inner mechanisms, which realizes the complicated movements of a tea serving doll and a DANGAERI doll, will be explained.