Dear MMDers, I have written and published a book, "Japanese Automata
-- Karakuri Zui: An Eighteenth Century Manual of Automatic Mechanical
Devices."
"Karakuri Zui" was published as a set of three volumes of books in 1796
and the British Museum has its original set which is introduced at the
following museum official site:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/asia/h/hosokawa_honz%C5%8D_yorinao,_a_wood.aspx
The contents of "Karakuri Zui" consist with three Japanese mechanical
clocks and nine automatic mechanical toys at the time in Japan with so
many diagrams of the structures and the parts. I have translated and
annotated the whole parts of the book in English.
"Japanese Automata" has been published in a limited edition of just
500 copies and they are being sold now. My daughter made the web site
to introduce and sell this book at the following address:
http://japaneseautomata.web.fc2.com/
At the site, you can read the review of this book written by Arthur
W.J.G. Ord-Hume (The Music Box, Vol. 25 No. 8 Winter 2012, journal of
the Musical Box Society of Great Britain). I am happy if you will
visit the site.
With best wishes,
Murakami Kazuo, Japan
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