THE ROBOT DOLL MASTER

Interviewed Tamaya Shobei the 9th this week.  I first met Shobei San about 18 years ago when I was doing TV reports for "Nagoya Weekly", and have often worked together on various cultural events.
Shobei san is the last remaining Karakuri (mechanical doll) craftsmen in Japan. The mechanical dolls date back to the early 1600's when his ancestors made a mechanical doll that can deliver a cup of tea to a guest, and then return the empty cup to the server. The gearing was intricately carved wood, and the spring was made from whale whiskers. This was the first robot. See the interview on Web Magazine Japan World  http://japanworld.info/