Wooden interlocking figural puzzles made in Germany are mentioned in the classic book, Professor Hoffmann’s Puzzles Old and New of 1893. Although Japanese artists may not have been the first to make this puzzle craft form, they have fully developed the interlocking figural puzzles now known as kumiki to the highest degree.

Traditional Japanese craftsmen did not use nails in building construction because nailed wooden joints were easily compromised during earthquakes. They developed ingenious methods of interlocking wood joinery that would stand up to earthquakes. Even today, books are available on the unique, traditional wood joinery of Japanese craftsman. Kumiki puzzles utilize the concept of notched joinery to make interesting looking and working puzzles.

Tsunetaro Yamanaka (1874-1954) was the first craftsman to develop the figural wooden interlocking puzzles known as kumiki. He designed and constructed puzzles that resembled buildings and vehicles, not just abstract shapes like spheres and cubes. His descendants continued to carry on the tradition, still creating new puzzles including animal shapes. Today, Tadaaki Yamanaka, great grandson of Tsunetaro, continues his great grandfather’s work. The “Robot” kumiki is an example of one of his newer designs (1993)

There are four different Kumiki design techniques: oshi, mawashi, kendon and sayubiki. The first means push, these puzzles have a key piece which has to be pushed out. Puzzles based on the mawashi principle have a piece which has to be twisted in order to solve the puzzle. In kendon puzzles you have to remove a piece by moving up and down or from left to right. With sayubiki two key pieces have to be removed simultaneously. The key piece is always skillfully hidden.

To learn more about interlocking solid puzzles read the books of Jerry Slocum,  Puzzle Collector and noted author of books about Mechanical Puzzles.

Guaranteed Quality
Each and every kumiki puzzle we sell here at Cleverwood is carefully visually inspected right before it is shipped to you. We look at the assembled puzzle carefully. But, we do not disassemble and reassemble each puzzle. That would be just too time consuming, and we are assured that the puzzles shipped to us are the very best made.
We will replace or refund any of our kumiki puzzles that you judge to be unsatisfactory within 30 days of the date you receive it. We will make all reasonable accommodations after 30 days at our discretion.
Your satisfaction is our top priority. Please read the Comments from our Customers.

•Pronunciation Guide to Japanese Terms