The Japanese have always had a fascination with robots. They introduced to the world Astroboy, Asimo, Aibo… and the Karakuri Ningyo, translated as the ‘mechanical doll’, technology that was at its peak during the Edo period. The Karakuri Ningyo is the original robot of Japan.

This November, the Japan Foundation, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan and Questacon, have the pleasure to welcome two grand Karakuri masters,Shobei Tamaya IX and Dr Yoshikazu Suematsu, for a lecture and demonstration on the art of Karakuri.

They will be bringing with them some very expensive luggage on their Australian visit: the handmade Chahakobi Ningyo (a tea-serving doll, valued at ¥1,600,00) and the Yumihiki Doji (an archer doll that shoots with astounding precision, valued at ¥10,000,000).

The beauty of the Karakuri tradition lies in its concealment of complex technologies hidden behind a simple doll-like puppet. Additionally, the doll’s facial expressions are remarkable as they are painted with such accuracy, the finishing touch from its creator. Neutral expressions are applied but combined with the manipulation of subtle head movements, light and shadow, this incredibly enables the doll to convey diverse emotions, depending on the angle viewed.

Shobei Tamaya IX is the last remaining Karakuri master in Japan. He is the ninth generation Karakuri Ningyo craftsman from an unbroken lineage. He creates and restores Karakuri dolls in Nagoya and Inuyama, located in Aichi Prefecture, working closely with Cultural Preservation Committees around Japan.

Dr Yoshikazu Suematsu is an Honorary Professor at Nagano University, the Founder of the Suematsu Robotics Laboratory, and Principal of the Toyota National College of Technology. He is considered to be the world’s leading expert in Karakuri, and was a pioneer in robotic visionary systems.

Karakuri is the merging of art and entertainment, embodying tradition, spiritual philosophies and technologies that have continued to influence many forms of Japanese culture and modern inventions in significant ways.

Learn the secrets of traditional Karakuri technologies and its application in the field of robotics today, and allow it to awaken the inner magic and wonder that is hidden within.