The art of karakuri puppets began in the Edo period, an era when Japan was flourishing under the shogunate's strict, isolated policies. These weren't your average puppets; they were intricate mechanical devices made from wood and equipped with a series of gears and springs hidden beneath their beautifully lacquered exteriors. The magic of karakuri lies in their ability to perform complex, lifelike motions without any apparent source of power. One of the most famous types was the tea-serving pupp