Traditional trick box

We'd like to bring up the traditional trick boxes (秘密箱) made in Hakone region as the topic this time. This box is one of very unique 'Yosegizaiku (寄木細工)' products made in this region. However, 'Hakone-Yosegizaiku (箱根寄木細工)' is a regionally well-known product but not all around Japan. So, not all Japanese know the product.

Relatively speaking, it's kind of souvenir you may purchase when you visit Hakone region for sightseeing. But, if you don't have a chance to visit Hakone, you can get these products. Because we hear these products are available for the international customers in the Internet shopping site. If you are interested in them by reading this article, how about trying to buy through the web sites. 

We'd like to explain a little complicated words, 'Yosegizaiku' and 'trick boxes ' beforehand.

Yosegizaiku (寄木細工)

If you use the literal translation, 'parquet,' you may misunderstand what the 'Yosegizaiku' is. We think 'parquets' are components of combined small wooden parts of floorings or such like interior of buildings. And the combined patterns make beautiful expression. On the other hands, 'Yosegizaiku' handcrafts' patterns on the surface are very much subdivided. Each parts are very small geometric shape only several square milimeters size. So, these are not 'parquet (寄木)' but 'subdivided parquet (寄木細工)' if we have to give the name. 

 trick box (秘密箱)

And we think the word, 'trick box' is also difficult to understand what it means. If you want to specify the question, it will be what kind of 'trick' is there in this box. This box-like handcraft is for storage of something important. And when you observe it, the most distinctive point is the fact that there is no lid. This rectangular can't open and look into inside easily. And also it's not that kind of thing using key, so, there isn't any keyhole on it.

However, when you fiddle with all the surfaces many times, you may happen to find the fact that some part can slide a little. And after the first slide, you'll find the next sliding action only when the first siding action finished. The buildup of these small slides makes the progress of the solving the trick. The stock of the right moves makes the opening of the secret cover. The number of the sliding actions vary from 4 (easy type) to over 50 (difficult and expensive type).

   

Then, let's look at a 'simple trick box' which we made in a hand making experience.  

All 6 surfaces are finished by different 'Yosegizaiku.'

This small trick box is a simplified edition for a hand making experience. So the 'Yosegizaiku' of the surfaces are pre-made wooden stickers. Very thin wooden parts are already completed as the size of each surfaces. After the completion of the box, you stick them onto the wooden parts carefully. It's a simplified method for beginners.

This box can separate into 6 rectangle parts. Front side of the parts are similar rectangles of separate size. But, the back side are a little different. Some kind of notches are made and another parts are glued inside of the front parts. We notice that these complicated parts would be the sources of the sliding tricks. But how these parts act is above our head.

 

Then, we put together bottom-parts and bigger side-parts first. And we assemble smaller side-parts next. Sliding ranges are different on left and right. The matter would be the core of the trick. Then put the top-parts as the lid of this box. If you put together it to the correct direction, you can finish the assembly work. 

If you reserve in advance, you can participate this hand making workshop  regardless of Japanese or foreigners. Try it!

Let us check the history of 'Hakone-Yosegizaiku (箱根寄木細工).' We found several information from the Internet below. At the final part of the Edo period (江戸時代), around 200 years ago, this handcraft began in the Hatajyuku (畑宿) town. The Hatajyuku town was a inn town at that time and it's located in the middle of the Hakone (箱根) town and the Odawara (小田原) town.

Hakone is a mountainous region and not good for agriculture. However, in the mountain, there are various woods are growing. A certain craftsman happened to make 'Yosegizaiku' in which many different colors of woods were leveraged. Then the handcrafts became the regional industry.

   
The idea of 'trick box' was originated at the middle of the Meiji period (明治時代), around 130 years ago. And soon became the typical products of 'Hakone-Yosegizaiku.'

The small museum we experienced the workshop is attached beside a 'Hakone-Yosegizaiku' shop. And near the museum, there is the 'Onshi-hakone' park. Once there was a Imperial Villa of the Meiji emperor. The building at that time was ruined, but another building which is used as a observatory and museum is located at the same place of the former villa. 

From the observation deck, you can look at the whole picture of the Asinoko lake. Weather permitting, you can appreciate the Mt. Fuji through the lake. Unfortunately, the weather didn't permit and the view of the Mt. Fuji didn't bless us this time.