The series revolves around a 200-year-old conflict originating with two brothers, , who traveled to Prague to study alchemy and puppetry.
: An 11-year-old boy forced to grow up quickly while navigating a world of assassins and bizarre puppet combat. Karakuri Circus
The modern-day story begins with , a young boy who inherits a massive fortune of 18 billion yen following the death of his father. This inheritance makes him the target of various factions—including his own family—who utilize deadly, lifelike puppets (automatons) to kidnap or kill him. This inheritance makes him the target of various
: A powerful martial artist suffering from Zonapha Syndrome , a bizarre illness that restricts his breathing unless he can make people laugh. He acts as Masaru's protector early on. : A mysterious, silver-haired woman who controls the
: A mysterious, silver-haired woman who controls the powerful puppet Arlequin . She was tasked with protecting Masaru and has a deep, centuries-old connection to the Saiga family's secrets. The Lore of Puppets and Alchemy