Edo-period puppet; traditional Japanese puppet
Refers to a specific variety of puppet popular during the Edo period. The term is historical and not used for modern puppets.
Tezuma ningyō is a type of puppet that was popular in the Edo period.
操り人形 is the general term for marionette or string puppet, while 手妻人形 refers specifically to a historical Edo-period variety.
The term combines 手妻 (tezuma, a type of sleight-of-hand or quick hand trick) with 人形 (ningyō, doll/puppet). The exact origin of 手妻 is uncertain, but it likely relates to the quick, dexterous hand movements used in the performance.