Experience a favorite feudal Japanese time-piece by building your own beautiful dual-foliot, Edo-period Japanese mechanical clock!

Edo-period Japanese clocks were unique mechanical clocks that adapted Western clock-making techniques to tell traditional Japanese time. This kit from Gakken has two foliots - one for the day hours and one for the night hours. The front and rear foliots switch between 6 AM and 6 PM automatically.

A foliot is part of the Verge escapement of early clocks. Even if you're not a clock expert or enthusiast, this kit is fairly easy to build and should only take an hour or so. While the instructions with this product come in Japanese (great for practicing your Kana & Kanji reading skills!) Gakken has thoughtfully provided an English guide for download here

Gakken is a Japanese publishing company founded in 1946.  In the 1970s, they began selling educational toys, books, magazines, and electronic kits.  Their kits are known for their smart design and relative ease of use and have a large cult following both in Japan and the United States.