Collecting Japanese Puzzle Boxes

For many people one puzzle box leads to another. Collectors seek out different sizes and move counts, pattern styles, pictorial inlay boxes, solid yosegi and, above all, original karakuri boxes by named craftsmen. This page offers a framework for building a collection thoughtfully.

Ways to focus a collection

By move count

A classic approach is to collect a series of traditional boxes across the range of moves. Izumiya, a Hakone maker, states that most Japanese secret boxes range from 2 to 72 moves, and the Hakone Karakuri Museum's shop lists boxes such as 7-step, 21-step and 27-step designs. A series shows how the mechanism grows from a few slides to a long, patient sequence. See sizes and moves.

By size

Some collectors focus on sun sizes, from tiny boxes of one or two sun to larger boxes of six or seven sun. Izumiya's size chart runs from 1 sun (about 1.22 inches) to 7 sun (about 8.54 inches).

By pattern

Others collect the traditional patterns: ichimatsu, asanoha, seigaiha, sayagata, mimasu, yabane and the fine small-piece ko-yosegi style. Comparing the same pattern from different workshops shows how each maker's choice of woods changes the effect.

By technique

A broader Hakone collection might include a zuku-covered box, a solid muku piece, a pictorial mokuzogan or zougan box, and a kumiki interlocking puzzle.

By maker

Karakuri box collectors usually focus on craftsmen. The Karakuri Creation Group says it makes over 40 new karakuri boxes every year, that each craftsman makes original works, and that it also makes reprints of interesting designs at more affordable prices. Its site invites visitors to "find your favorite craftsman." See karakuri trick boxes.

Understanding karakuri editions

Original karakuri designs are made in limited numbers by individual craftsmen. The group's practice of producing reprints of popular designs means that the same design may exist in an original and a later version. When buying, ask which you are getting, and keep any documentation that came with the box.

Where collectors find boxes

  • Hakone and Odawara workshops and shops. The best place to see a wide range of traditional boxes and ask questions. See visiting Hakone.
  • Exhibitions. The Karakuri Creation Group says it has held an exhibition at Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo every year since 2006.
  • Museums. The Hakone Karakuri Museum exhibits about 100 items, according to The Japan News, including works by modern artisans, and visitors can handle many of them. Seeing pieces in person helps you learn what you like before you buy.
  • Specialist dealers and the secondary market. Older and sold-out boxes appear through dealers, auctions and collector communities. Apply the checks in the buying guide.

Documenting your collection

Good records add to the enjoyment and value of a collection:

  • Maker, workshop or brand, and where you bought it.
  • Size in sun and actual dimensions, including interior.
  • Move count and the opening sequence (stored separately from the box).
  • Pattern and woods, if known.
  • Any marks, such as the Tradition Stamp or a maker's mark, and any certificate or paperwork.
  • Photographs of all sides.

Condition

When assessing a box, especially a secondhand one, check that:

  • All panels slide smoothly and the box opens and closes fully.
  • The veneer is not lifting, chipped or cracked, especially at corners and panel edges.
  • Colors are even; strong fading on one side suggests long exposure to sunlight.
  • There are no signs of water damage, such as raised grain or white marks.
  • The box has not been oiled or repaired with visible glue.

Displaying a collection

Display boxes on shelves out of direct sunlight and away from heaters and damp. Glass-fronted cabinets keep dust off. Rotate pieces occasionally so they age evenly, and handle them with clean, dry hands. See care.

The wider puzzle world

Japanese puzzle boxes belong to the larger world of mechanical puzzles. The Karakuri Creation Group lists helping organize the International Puzzle Meeting in 2010 and the Karakuri Puzzle Festa in 2008 among its activities, and Hakone's kumiki interlocking puzzles connect the region to the broader tradition of wooden puzzles. Collectors often find that interest in Hakone boxes leads naturally to other mechanical puzzles.

Collecting responsibly

Buying directly from makers, their exhibitions and knowledgeable shops supports the craftspeople who keep the tradition alive. Noboru Honma, the Hakone craftsman profiled by the national craft association, argues that high-quality products will always survive when they are made carefully and sold carefully. Collectors who seek out well-made, honestly described work help make that true.

Starting small

A sensible first step is three boxes: one low-move traditional box, one higher-move traditional box, and one karakuri box. Together they show the range of the craft, from simple sliding panels to long sequences to original mechanisms, and help you decide which direction to pursue.

Sources

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