Kobe Wooden Automatons. 3 pcs. Japan: mid-Meija era, ca. 1890s/1900s. Mechanical ebonized wooden toys unique to Kobe that were sold at souvenir shops on Motomachi Shopping Street and near Nunobiki Waterfall where tourists gathered. A knob is turned back-and-forth making the figure move in various comedic ways; one is chopping watermelon while simultaneously eating it; another is joyously devouring a mushroom skewer; the last is charming a snake out of a basket. Height 4 ??. Near fine condition. Working.