Japanese Automata Karakuri Zui 　機巧図彙

Saturday, July 26, 2025

BLOG 9. “Writer doll on the karakuri chariots. Is it clockwork?”

This is a continuation from BLOG 8. Fukurokuju-sha of the BLOG 6 have one dummy escapement of the clock, but Hotei-sha has two dummy escapements which are attached to the front and rear of the base.
“Escapement” is the regulator of the clockwork and the symbol of the automatic mechanical device, or automata. The dolls of Fukurokuju-sha are mechanical puppets, but not automata. Those dolls are “fake automata”.

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―――――― ON SALE NOW ―――――― "Japanese Automata Kararkuri Zui" (JAK) is directly on sale by the author.

Limited ediotion of serial numbered 500 copies, soft cover, 257pp, 21 x 29.7cm, 104 original diagrams and drawings of the mechanical devices made in Edo period (1603-1867). Translated and annotated in English. Price: 12,000 JPY plus shipping charge. Please ask the following email address how to buy the book: japaneseautomata@gmail.com 　　　　【BOOK REVIEWS】　　“Karakuri Zui is a remarkable set of books published in first Edo (today’s Tokyo) and Osaka in 1796, and then Kyoto in 1808. … Now, though, thanks to the efforts of Musical Box Society member Murakami Kazuo, this work is available in English. Where a mere translation would be a major step forward, Kazuo has gone far beyond that goal and given us a veritable treasure-trove of Japanese history on the subject of automatic devices.”　Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume (The Music Box Vol.25 No.8 Winter 2012) 　　“This is an important book. It has a great historical value, and perusing the various ingenious mechanisms and understanding their functions is fascinating. The book is well produced on high-quality paper, illustrations, all in black-and-white, are clear and easily understood. Highly recommended”.　Marc Horovitz (Automata Magazine November･December 2024)