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A Historical Overview of Japanese Clocks and Karakuri

  • Conference paper
International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms

Abstract

This paper describes the history of clocks and karakuri (mechanisms) in Japan. In particular, it touches on the application of clock technology to karakuri ningyou (Japanese automata) and introduces the works of Hisashige Tanaka, a karakuri master in the Edo period (1603–1867) and also a clockmaker. It also discusses the contribution of Hisashige Tanaka to the modernization of Japan through his contributions to the development of karakuri and clock technology.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Corporate R&D Center, Toshiba Corporation, 1, Komukai-Toshiba-cho, Saiwai-ku Kawasaki, Kanagawa 212-8582, Japan

    Yasuhiro Yokota

Authors
  1. Yasuhiro Yokota
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Mechanical Engineering, Nat. Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan R.O.C

    Hong-Sen Yan

  2. Dipto. Meccanica, Strutture, Università Cassino, Ambiente e Territorio Via G. di Biasio, 43, 03043 Cassino, Italy

    Marco Ceccarelli

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Yokota, Y. (2009). A Historical Overview of Japanese Clocks and Karakuri. In: Yan, HS., Ceccarelli, M. (eds) International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9485-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9485-9_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-9484-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-9485-9

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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