64-year-old Tamaya Shobei is a master maker of Karakuri puppets, automated dolls which move via clockwork and string-based mechanisms. He is the 9th successor of the Tamaya line, which has carried on the tradition of Karakuri for 280 years. In Tamaya Shobei's hands, even puppets hundreds of years old that were thought impossible to repair have been skillfully brought back to life. The restored puppets move with delicate grace, as if they are truly alive. Throughout his work, Tamaya adheres to the following belief: "Go at your own pace." Recently, he has taken on a large project unlike any he has attempted before. Rising to the challenge, Tamaya works hard each day in order to take his skills as the 9th successor to an even greater level.