Tokyo’s first Maker Faire is set for Dec. 1-2 at Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.
The city has hosted smaller Make: Meetings but this is the first official Maker Faire. Back in 2009, Tokyo’s MAKE: Meeting attracted 600 people over two days and about 20 makers. Maker Faire Tokyo is expected to draw about 10,000 visitors over two days. There are 250 makers signed up with a list of 30 or more on the waiting list. Making is big in Tokyo.
“They have just grow and grown,” said John Moore, Managing Director of O’Reilly Japan and Maker Faire Tokyo organizer.
Speaking of big, one of the biggest, most anticipated attractions at Maker Faire Tokyo will be Kuratas, a 13-foot robot from Suidobashi Heavy Industries. The diesel-powered KR01 Kuratas Battle Mech can be controlled via smart phone or a pilot riding inside.
On a smaller scale, Minokura’s “Smart Trashbox,” a wheeled robot that moves to catch trash as you throw it, will also be featured at the fair.
Other standout maker exhibits include:
- A pinhole planetarium projector that displays 5,800 fixed stars in 3-D.
- Radiation Watch, a nonprofit project aimed at spreading the use of a “pocket Geiger counter” smart phone technology.
- Cool, mixed media knitted creations from Miquraffreshia.
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