Karakuri dolls, or Karakuri ningyō, are traditional Japanese automata dating back to the 17th century, blending artistry with mechanical engineering. These dolls were designed to perform specific tasks or entertain, like serving tea, firing arrows, or writing calligraphy—all powered by hidden gears, springs, and pulleys without electricity. Japan’s last Karakuri doll master, Tamaya Shobei IX, is a ninth-generation artisan preserving the 300-year-old tradition of mechanical puppets. He recreates