Mechanical Dolls

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.

Directing

Hitoshi Nishiyama · Director

Writing

Adam Fulford · Script Consultant

Satomi Furukawa · Script Consultant

Production

Chiyo Kawahara · Executive Producer

Naoko Fujimura · Producer

Sachiko Miyamoto · Executive Producer

Camera

Norio Teranuma · Camera Operator

Editing

Jun Afuso · Editor

Sound

Masaki Hirabayashi · Sound Engineer

Masanobu Kuroda · Music Supervisor

Lighting

Kazutoshi Onuma · Lighting Technician

Guest Stars (3)

Matt Alt as Self - Reporter in Plus One

Yoshikazu Suematsu as Self - Expert

Masanari Mizoguchi as Self - Expert