The ``Karakuri Clock'', which has been loved by locals in Aomori and Fujisaki for over 30 years, is one step closer to revival.
The mechanical clock in the atrium of the Aeon Fujisaki store (Fujisaki Town) is currently being inspected and adjusted.
The official name of the Karakuri Clock is "Jump Rock 'Humming Bird'". It has existed since its founding in 1989 (Heisei 2), with three small birds moving and playing music 10 times a day, but it has stopped moving since 2016 (Heisei 28). According to Tsuneaki Watanabe, who took over as store manager last September, he didn't even know which parts needed repair because there were no documents left.
Mr. Watanabe said, ``What I realized when I took over was that there were many requests from local customers to reopen the store.I don't know how far I can move it, but I want to leave it in a way that it will continue to be a symbol of our store, so I will start by I would like to investigate and be able to show it to you."
The Karakuri Clock is covered with a sheet and entry is currently restricted. Motoyo Kimura of the ``Hamanasu-dan'' ``Karakuri Clock Research Circle'' was delighted to hear of the revival of ``Karakuri Clock''. In February of this year, Mr. Kimura appeared on the TV program "Matsuko's Unknown World" and was one of the people who spread the charm of local karakuri clocks to the whole country.
Mr. Kimura is from Aomori, and he says that this is what made him fall in love with karakuri clocks. ``I remember crying because I was so sad when I found out it was broken.I now live outside of Aomori Prefecture, so I stopped by every time I returned home and continued to fill out questionnaires hoping for its restoration,'' Kimura said.
Commenting on the revival, people online said, ``I'm happy that the clock that I remember so much fun going to with my grandparents when I was little is back,'' and ``I hope that one day I will become a parent and be able to look at this clock with my children.'' Some people responded with joy, such as ``Totto'', ``Cook'', and ``Poppo'', as well as the names of the three small birds.
Mr. Kimura said, ``I feel that the local residents love the karakuri clock more than I expected.When it is revived, I hope that it will be loved by the local community even more than before, and that it will make a fresh start that will transcend the boundaries of the local area and become a famous spot in Aomori.'' I want it.'' I hope.
Operations are scheduled to resume in late November.
