Ostravské muzeum

Karakuri

Karakuri were the first mechanical toy puppets, used to entertain the Japanese nobility as early as the Edo period (17th century). The original models were made from whalebone and wood, with some components made from ceramics. Today’s models, which recall the technical sophistication of old Japan, are merely plastic replicas. In Japanese museums, however, you can still find original examples that remain in working order.

Karakuri could be described as the first “robots”. Ingenious clockwork mechanisms and connecting rods enabled them to perform up to five actions, depending on how they had been set up.