About
As you walk along Ningyocho Street, the “Karakuri Tower,” which conveys the atmosphere of Edo to the present day, comes into view. This 6.5-meter-high tower is a mechanical clock themed on Edo rakugo, and every hour on the hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., a mechanical performance lasting about 2 to 3 minutes unfolds.
At the appointed time, the opening music of rakugo plays, the curtain rises, and a puppet of a rakugo storyteller appears. A narration by Master Danshuku Tachikawa about the origin of Ningyocho is played, and in sync with it, the upper panel rotates to recreate the townscape of Edo and the lives of its townspeople. A fishmonger carrying a yoke, a carpenter with a toolbox on his back, a glamorous geisha, a wealthy merchant, and other people who supported the vibrancy of Edo appear one after another, allowing you to feel as if you have slipped back in time to the Edo period.
This Karakuri Tower was installed in 2009 as a new symbol of the Ningyocho shopping street. Since the early Edo period, Ningyocho was lined with theaters for puppet plays and kabuki, and many puppet makers lived there, which is why it was called “Ningyocho” (Puppet Town). This Karakuri Tower, which conveys that history to the present, is an embodiment of the elegance and charm of Edo.
On the opposite side of Ningyocho Street stands another Karakuri Tower, “Machibikeshi.” This one is 7.55 meters tall and is themed on the town fire brigade “Ha-gumi” of the Edo period. When the traditional work song plays, the standard-bearer waves the “Ha-gumi” standard, the roof rises, and a ladder acrobat appears, providing a dynamic performance.
The Karakuri Towers of Ningyocho are precious presences that convey the culture and history of Edo to the modern day. When you visit, be sure to time your visit to see them in action.