Karakuri Ningyo is a mechanical puppet from Japan. One type of puppet, the Zashiki, is used to serve tea to guests during a tea party, rolling across the table, offering tea, and then returning to its original location with the empty cup. The Butai karakuri were used theaters, the Zashiki karakuri were smaller and played with in homes, while the Dashi karakuri were used in religious festivals during the reenactment of myths and legends, influencing noh, kabuki, and bunraku theater.
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