LONDON ¨C Karakuri ningyo, traditional Japanese mechanical puppets, were demonstrated at a recent event at Japan House London, which promotes Japanese culture.
The event on Friday featured a performance by 72-year-old karakuri ningyo craftsman Tamaya Shobei IX, who also explained the historical background of the art form. The dolls¡¯ sophisticated wooden gears and intricate thread mechanisms captivated the audience.
Karakuri dolls, or wooden automata powered without electricity, became popular in Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1867). One type of karakuri doll is operated by a puppeteer and can create lifelike expressions through the delicate movements of its limbs and facial features.
Tamaya, whose real name is Shoji Takashina, produces dolls in Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture.
During the demonstration, he presented ¡°Zashiki Karakuri,¡± in which a clockwork doll carries a teacup, and ¡°Dashi Karakuri,¡± which features the skillful manipulation of several internal threads. He received many questions from the audience about the dolls¡¯ materials and mechanisms.
¡°Technological expertise was concentrated in Aichi under the patronage of the samurai class in the past, leading to the region¡¯s modern spirit of manufacturing,¡± Tamaya said. ¡°I hope this occasion will help deepen people¡¯s understanding of and interest in Japanese culture.¡±
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