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~This information was current as of August 2000.
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Finally! I have arrived in Hakone, Japan, the birthplace of Yosegi handicraft
and Japanese secret boxes. |
At a Puzzle Cart in the Akihabara district of Tokyo.
The proprietor has a wonderful selection of puzzles and is very good at
describing how they work to everyone, including non-Japanese speaking puzzlers.
Here he has put up a sign to welcome attendees of the International
Puzzle Party in Tokyo, August of 2001. |
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A selection of traditional Japanese puzzle boxes and contemporary Japanese
puzzle boxes. Even without the hamburger on the lower left, its enough to make
your mouth water!
These are found at the best shop in Hakone Machi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
This shop is a must for puzzle box nuts who find themselves in the area. |
This is a display describing the making of the himtsu
bako, or secret box.
It is located in the Yosegi Kaikan Hall in Hatajuku, near Hakone town. |
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This is part of the above display explaining how the yosegi is shaved off
into thin sheets in preparation for mounting onto the boxes. |
An amazing display piece of a miniature home made using
yosegi handicraft. This was in a yosegi gift shop in Hatajuku, near Hakone. |
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This beautiful tower of yosegi samples is located in the a fine craft shop in
Hakone, Japan. |
| Here, I am enjoying a collection of older kumiki, displayed in the
Kanagawa Arts and Crafts Technology Center in Odawara. Everywhere I turned in Japan,
there were more puzzles! |
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This is a famous spot in Japan called the Avenue of Cedars. These cedars were
planted in 1618 and line a portion of the Tokaido Road in Hakone, an historic roadway
between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). About 420 of these trees remain today. |
A placard (in English!) in the Hatajuku Yosegi Kaikan
Hall. |
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A display of the many woods used in the making of yosegi. These woods are used
for their wide variety of colors. |
A craftsman in the Hatajuku Yosegi Hall answering questions and
demonstrating the art of yosegi craft. Even though he only spoke Japanese, his
demonstrations were very informative. |
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My camera couldn’t keep up with his speed at shaving off a slice of yosegi! |
Notice how he sits as he works, with everything he needs within an
arm's reach. |
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Yosegi blocks in various states of completion. |
The craftsman's workbench and yosegi plane. These planes come
in many different sizes. |
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The historic Asakusa district of Tokyo. |
Healing incense burns in this pot outside an Asakusa temple.
People wave the smoke toward themselves in a ritual of healing. You see me
here because I was losing my voice, and I felt this just might be the ticket. |
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A yosegi craftsman in Hatajuku explaining his craft. After he built yosegi
blocks, he would turn them on a lathe to make goblets and other objects. |
Behind him you see some of the yosegi blocks he has made. |
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Here I am presenting Akio Kamei (far right) with some fine woodworking magazines from
the US. Honestly, I don’t think Kamei-san needs any pointers, but I thought
he would find the western style of fine woodworking, as presented in the magazines,
interesting. Between us is Naoaki Takashima. |
Tom Lensch and I are ready for more puzzle shopping in Hakone. |
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Still More Photos
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