SKIRMISHER

He tilts his head, he smiles, he moves his eyes, he puffs up his cheeks and chest, he freaks you out when there’s only you and him in a dark smelly room. Gakutensoku, considered as Asia’s oldest “modern” robot, has recently been revived by replacing its old inflatable rubber tubes with computer-controlled pneumatic servo system to the tune of $200,000.

Built in 1928 by biologist Makoto Nishimura, Gakutensoku was first exhibited in Kyoto as part of the formal celebration of the Showa Emperor’s ascension to the throne. The robot traveled to a number of expos and wowed onlookers with its mad calligraphy skills before going missing in Germany. After a long disappearance, Gakutensoku was located and later repatriated to Osaka.

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