Karakuri Circus

Karakuri Circus (Japanese: からくりサーカス, Karakuri Sākasu, lit. 'Mechanical Puppet Circus') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiro Fujita. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine from July 1997 to June 2006, with its chapters collected in 43 tankōbon volumes. The story centers on Masaru Saiga, a young boy who inherits a massive fortune; Narumi Katō, a kung-fu expert suffering from Zonapha syndrome; and Shirogane (Éléonore), Masaru's caretaker and a puppet master who controls the puppet Arlequin. They must battle against automatons and save the world from the Zonapha syndrome. The manga combines elements of circus, alchemy, and karakuri puppets and explores a 200-year-old tragedy and cycle of reincarnation. The story splits into two main arcs: one where Narumi joins Shirogane to fight automatons, and another where Masaru and Éléonore join a circus trying to live a normal life. Both paths converge during the climax. The manga has sold over 15 million copies and has been adapted into an anime, games, and a stage play.