In this paper, we proposed a fuzzy sliding mode controller for a robot manipulator with passive joints. A robot manipulator with passive joints which is not equipped with actuators is a kind of underactuated systerms. The control of underactuated manipulators is more difficult than that of fully-actuated ones. Though the sliding mode control technique has a robust charocteristics to prrarreter uncertainties and external disturbances, the chattering phenomena becorne one of the major problems in application to the real plant. plant.