Development of a “TSUMIKI” Robot Toy Based on a Figure Original to the Hokkaido Region - Examination of a Prototype Robot of Blakiston’s Fish Owl, Called “Kotan Kor Kamuy,” a Household God of the Aynu

The robot toy prototype detailed here is based on a figure original to Japan’s northeastern-most island of Hokkaido. Traditionally made of native ezomatsu (Picea jezoensis) wood it was the carving of a Blakiston’s fish owl, an Aynu household god called Kotan Kor Kamuy. The design concept incorporates traditional building blocks, or “tsumiki.” We detail the design process of the Blakiston’s fish owl toy and the drive mechanism. It includes an electronic circuit, a microprocessor, a servomotor, and a sensor. We also describe how we developed the effective prototype implementing these components.