Automata and Robots
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Research on Traditional Technology from the Edo Period and Modern Robots
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Episode 9: Mechanism and Types of Automata
Automata on stands and those that can walk. Clockwork automata and those utilizing fluid… There are many types of automata.
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Various automata were found in the Edo period. Many words that mean automata can be seen in books and brochures from performances at the time. “Nozokikarakuri (peep box)”, “Ryutosui (an old fire pump)”, “Erekiteru (generator of static electricity)”, and “clock” that were derived from Western Europe were also put on display or sold.
Moving objects via some sort of mechanism and anything made very skillfully were regarded as “automata” regardless of scientific and technical theory. I categorize an automaton as a prototype robot.
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Erekiteru
Made by Benkichi Ohno, possessed by Ishikawa-Ken History Museum
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First, let’s categorize them by purpose:
1. Automata manufactured for festivals and rituals
Trolley and festival-float automata are representative examples of this. They originated in immobile standing dolls mounted on festival-floats in Kyoto made during the Muromachi period and spread throughout Japan. Quite a few of them still exist.
2. Automata manufactured for general public shows
This includes automata demonstrations at shows such as Takeda Karakuri Shibai (automata show by Takeda) and a rendering method for use on stages such as in the Joruri puppet theater. They were often used so a few of them still exist now. Automata for shows in particular had very little commercial value so they were often scrapped and hence very few of them exist now.
3. Automata manufactured for personal use
This includes commercial automata and those manufactured for specific individuals. They were privately owned so some still exist. However, many of them got broken and thrown away, similar to the toys of today.
They can be categorized into two types in terms of mechanism and structure:
A. Included a mechanism in the body and moved using springs (made of steel, brass, baleen, bamboo, etc.), water, sand, air, liquid silver, etc. as their motive power.
B. Humans manipulated them using threads or sticks. They looked as if they moved via an included mechanism without revealing it was a gimmick.
A feature of Japanese automata is that they were developed in circumstances where every one could easily see and buy them as commercial products at festivals or shows. However, Japanese automata were far behind European countries at the time in terms of mechanism and structure. Power generation technology in particular was absolutely inferior to that in use in Europe.
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The internals of a Karakuri Tobigaeru (jumping frog automaton)
Made by Benkichi Ohno, possessed by Ishikawa-Ken History Museum
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Manufacturing metal spiral springs basically almost impossible for Japan at the time. Some automata that moved through spiral springs were made; however, there were restricted in size and strength to tea-serving dolls that moved using baleen. Therefore, automata that moved using metal springs, such as the “Tobigaeru (jumping frog),” were manufactured as microrobots.
Paradoxically enough lagging behind technologically may have been a good opportunity to have fostered knowledge and skill in Japanese automata with both good and bad points. With the “Yumiiri Doji (Boy shooting a bow)” it appears that the craftsman had attempted to create expressions not through moving the eyes and mouth but rather by being well-made with a Noh mask like face.
We can often see “mottainai (sense of thriftiness)” built into automata. Japanese automata are the fruit of the wisdom and skill produced by craftsmen working with limited resources and many restrictions aimed at the general public.
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[Netsuke Chahakobi Ningyo (Small toggle: Tea-Serving Doll)]
Possessed by Ishikawa Ohno Karakuri Museum
“Karakuri microrobot” It is said to be the smallest at the time it was manufactured.
(39 minutes, 3,702KB)
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[Netsuke Tobigaeru (Small toggle: Jumping Frog)]
Possessed by Ishikawa-Ken History Museum
It jumps as if it were alive through integration of a mechanism into a small frog doll.
(39 minutes, 2,969KB)
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[Uchiwa Aogi Ningyo (Fan waving doll)]
Image provided by Toyota Motor Corporation
It moves its head while slowly waving a fan up and down.
(27 minutes, 1,656KB)
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(Click the image to see the movie.)
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Kazuyoshi Suzuki
Senior curator of National Museum of Nature and Science
Specialty is the history of scientific technology. Involved in surveying and researching scientific and technological developments in Japan: Especially that of the Edo Period up to present time on a demonstration basis. Has experienced being a member of the METI “Traditional skill research study group”, and a conceptual committee member and exhibition supervision committee member of Osaka Children’s Castle, TOYOTA Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, EDO-TOKYO MUSEUM, and other museums.
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Automata and Robots 
