week10 : Future

Hello! Today’s blog is the last in this class, so finally we are free! But I fell a little sad.

In the last I talk about “Future of Karakuri doll”.

How transform are Karakuri dolls?

[Robot]

<AIBO>

Sony created this pet type robot. AIBO’s formal name is “Artifical Intelligence roBOt” and it derives AI, EYE, AIBOU (it means partner). This robot become important turning point of the history of robot because it had the world admit the category “pet type robot”.

<Trumpet robot>

TOYOTA created this robot to display at EXPO 2005 Aichi Japan. Scientists filled technologies of industrial robot, control technologies of cars, and high technologies in this. “He” is able to walk on two legs stably and play the trumpet.

[Effects]
Karakuri doll gave people great effects in many aspects.

(1) The value as the systems that leave technology and technical skill

To achieve continuous development the system that leaves wisdom of ancient people next generations is most important. Dashi karakuri festivals are very good chance to show the wisdom for young because this festivals gather without no distinction of age or sex.

(2) The relation ship of maker, player and audience

This three elements combine to play Karakuri number. Who handles Karakuri doll catches those atmosphere and mental states. There is value in the communication that between Karakuri doll and human.

(3) Educational value and activation of regions

Not only Karakuri dolls but also musical accompaniments are innovated in the education of elementary schools and junior high schools step by step. And these shopping streets or self-governing bodies are increasing that saw Dashi Karakuri in a new light as a motive power of activation of regions.

(4) Motive power of manufacturing ideas

The many kinds of Karakuri dolls that we saw in our childhood bring up mysteries or interest, and encourage switch of idea in each fields. It becomes “motive power” that creates high technology. For example “Rangui watari(乱杭渡り)” which goes up stakes lined up like as stairs evolved robots, “Henshin Karakuri ” which a doll transform a shrine evolved solar panel of satellites or folding system of panoramic antenna.

Karakuri dolls premise that it is used for 50 or 100 years and it is designed to repair easily. It is also excels as bearing from environmental change that it is mirror of a Recycling-based Society.

[Evolution of Karakuri doll to robot]
Most famous robot in japan is “Astro boy – Tetsuwan Atom –” and “Doraemon”. No image in Europe like as robot have heart like human. It is Japanese original idea that robots take a communication with human. This idea was caused from Karakuri. Hundreds of years of tradition of Karakuri brought up Japanese cultural climate that enables people to love dolls “who” behave like human. 

[Future]

Karakuri dolls enable to fuse with culture, art, custom, and economy. Robot should take over this fusion. At first Karakuri dolls were made to entertainment around people and it haven’t changed still now. We should leave good aspects of Karakuri dolls forever.

week 9: Foreign mechanical dolls

Hello!

Since this week, I had shown you many charms of "Japanese" mechanical dolls "Karakuri". But how about foreign mechanical dolls? In this week I will introduce famous mechanical doll "Automata" in other country.

It is said "European Karakuri doll" or "robot". The word "Automata" is plural form of "automaton" that is an origin of "automation" and "automatic". And the origin of "Automaton" is "automatos" in Latin and Greek.

"autos (=oneself)" + "matos (=can think, lively, active)".

The origin of the mechanism of Automata is thinkable to be born in the Hellenism era (=BC). Dolls were used not only to be entertained but also to assist religious ceremony. To add the production that dolls move by oneself enable people to look as if dolls have spirit.

Concretely, these dolls were refined by the technique of Archimedes or Heron or Philo in ancient Greece. They use gear wheels, siphons, water power, pulley and so on. Heron invented a lot of automatic devices and the states are drawn in Greek mythology, for example the chair which works automatically.

The right picture is the washbowl which comprised structure of the drainage by Philo.(190)

After that, the countries of Islam imported studies and sciences of Greek so Muslims had skills and left the books which record many kinds of clock, Karakuri dolls, water supply traies and so on. After the medieval periods Europeans got the studies of Greek again via Arabia (Islamic world). The oldest mechanical clock that has existed still now is said that it was made in 1364 although it is not clear when mechanical clocks were invented. In the 14th century tower clocks appeared in churches, city halls, public halls and so on in every place of Europe mainly United Kingdom. In these clocks mechanical doll dances or ring the bell on specific time. There are astronomical clocks that have existed since the 15th century in Munich and Prague. In the 18th century Vaucanson who was inventor of France achieved universal popularity with the self-playing musical instruments or mechanical dolls for the theater. His masterpiece is The Digesting Duck in 1739.(350)





This is "pierrot writer" invented by Leopold Lambert in 1900. This pierrot is writing a letter for his girlfriend. But he is so sleepy so after right hand move to write the words smoothly he shut his eyes and he nod in a doze. The fire of a lamp becomes small, he come to himself and start to write again. He is so charming!  (414)





This is "Musician" invented by Pierre Jaquet-Droz in 1770s. She does not play the organ but she move her hand over keyboards with music. In fact sounds are played by the organ itself. She is made by about 2500 parts and is able to play 5 musics which are composed by Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz who is a son of Pierre Jaquet-Droz.





This is "Drawer" invented by Pierre Jaquet-Droz in 1773. He is able to draw 4 pictures, "a profile of Louis XIV of France", "a loyal couple", "a dog", "a butter-fly". Sometimes he blows to the top of the pencil to remove dust. He has humanity. (526 words)

week 8: Parts of mechanical dolls in our life

Hello! In this week I will show you “Parts of mechanical dolls in our life”. Karakuri doll was born 17th century and had grown up. And every time they were with people. How are Karakuri dolls useful in our life?

According to the website of Wikipedia,

“Karakuri ningyō (からくり人形) are mechanized puppets or automata from Japan from the 17th century to 19th century. The word Karakuri means "mechanisms" or "trick". In Japanese ningyō is written as two separate characters, meaning person and shape. It may be translated as puppet, but also by doll or effigy. The dolls' gestures provided a form of entertainment.”

The mechanism of Karakuri doll which moves it is really a machine in itself that it possess principles which effects contemporary mechanical engineering. With the aspect of the machine technology, precision instrument technology which created "the wooden robot" that did not exist in Europe was completed and practicalized in Japan that regarded as be inferior to Western European countries. There seems to be any relevant between the fact that Japan had been influenced by these wooden robot’s culture since early Edo era and the fact that Japan is in the top class of the amount of the total industrial products because there are many car and industrial robot company in now Nagoya region.

“This technological strength that created elaborate mechanical doll with wood in Edo era showed the power when Japan innovated new mechanical technology of Europe which used steel and had big contribution to promotion of industrializing of Japan. It is not hard to image it.” (鈴木礼二「からくり夢工房」２頁)

“This technology which supported Karakuri became tray of new mechanical technic from Europe after the Meiji Restoration(明治維新) when Japan was free from national isolation. And encouraged clock and car industries’ development, so it is said that this is foundation of today’s industry.” (西尾武喜「からくり夢工房」４頁)

 

Dashi Karakuri(山車からくり) of Aichi was born from the encounter of the technology of making doll in Kyoto and public puppet play in Osaka, and the technology of Japanese clock in Nagoya. To make one Dashi Karakuri needs a lot of technologists who has many specialties for example Rev. sewing, engraver, carpenter, cabinetmaker, etc. There were the division of labor which has expanse and the system called “just-in-time delivery system(カンバン方式)” of TOYOTA.

Karakuri is not only the technology of creating something. It gave a lot of audience friendships and enjoyment, and played an important role that attracts people for scientific technology.

Karakuri doll is what is called “the robot of Edo”. The purpose of making Karakuri is not realizing of the moving of human, it prior the audience and those around people. Karakuri doll have had essence that make people happy since it was born. (506 words)