Karakuri-ningyo, or mechanical dolls, can be regarded as traditional robots. Their technology is not just interesting but actually useful even today. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is mechanical dolls. Our guest is Yoshikazu Suematsu, a visiting professor at the Aichi Institute of Technology who introduces us to the fascinating technology behind these dolls. And in Plus One, Matt Alt learns how to operate festival float dolls with local students who are carrying on the tradition.

Hitoshi Nishiyama
Director

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Cast of this episode