Keystrokes :.

This is an amazing gift i just received for my birthday. It looks just like a wooden box, and lots of people can find that not interesting at all, but it’s actually an Himitsu-Bako, a typical japanese puzzle-box that may be opened only with the application of a combination of moves on its pieces.

Here is a video that shows what is that like:

Of course this is not something that will always prevent anyone to get what’s inside, since the box can be easily broken down with an hammer hit, or smashed into pieces against something hard, and still the combinations of moves for the pieces are not too many to try if having a long time. But if who may want to open don’t want to break it or don’t want the owner to know the box has been opened, and can’t try many combinations, it’s pretty effective. Obviously publishing a video showing how to open this one is not the best way to ensure it won’t be opened, but i really like this object, and i want to share something about that.

Here is the history sent with the box itself from its crafter:

Among the various art work s of wood in the world today, the Himitsu-Bako produced in Hakone-Odawara region of Japan, is superior in quality as well as traditional craftsmanship. With the abundant variety of trees in this region, the selection of hight quality wood and the expertise of three generations of master craftsman have achieved an artform revered for it’s artistry and ingenuity.

The Himitsu-Bako ( Personal Secret Box ) is a traditional Japanese puzzlebox that was designed over 100 years ago in the Hakone-Odawara region of the Japan. The Hakone mountains are noted for their great variety of trees.
The Personal Secret Box takes advantage of this wide variety of natural wood colors and textures to produce their elaborate geometric patterns. The appeal of the personal secret box is not merely in its entertainment qualities.
It is adorned with Yosegi-Zaiku and/or Moku-Zougan. The Yosegi-Zaiku is a mosaic woodwork usually applied to small handcrafts such as trays, boxes and chests.
This marquetry technique originated in the late Edo period, and in may of 1984 was designated a National Traditional Handcraft by the International Trade & Industry Minister. In the Hakone-Odawara region of Japan, there are about 100 people who are working in the field of Traditional Wooden products. Of this 100 people, only about 30 craftsman produce Yosegi-Zaiku and about four craftsman produce Moku-Zougan. The Himitsu-Bako are produced by only 9 traditional craftsman. These craftsman do not make the Yosegi-Zaiku, which adorn their Secret Puzzle Boxes.

The Himitsu-Bako craftsmen produce their secret puzzle box virtually alone from start to finish. They each pick the wood they will use and then allow it to dry for a period of time. Next, they cut and assemble wood pieces to form the puzzle box. Finally they apply the Yosegi-Zaiku to the outside of the box with the proper finishing technique. The youngest of the Himitsu-Bako Master craftsman is about 60 years old.

Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku was first created in the early Heian Period, more than 1000 years ago in Hakone region. During the Edo Period (17-19c) it thrived as secondary jobs for many Kagokaki (palanquin bearer) and started being sold at Chaya (Tea Shop). Kagokaki was like a current taxi driver, who moved between places bearing “Kago” (palanquin) on his shoulder. Travellers, for example, who moved between Edo (current capital Tokyo) and Kyoto (old capital) sometimes hired such Kagokakis and themselves rested in the Kago. As Hakone is a mountainous region, there are many kagokakis arrant there. Chaya is a current tea shop, where travelers took a rest enjoying surrounding views. There, at chayas, kagokakis started selling Yosegi-Zaiku as their secondary job.

There were 5 main principal Yosegi patterns: Kikkou, Kuroasa, Ichimatsu, Akaasa, and Koyosgi.

Then, about 100 years ago, new types of Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku was added, which was Himitsu-Bako. Originally “5 sun” ( 10x15x16 cm ) size or “6 sun” ( 13x19x9 cm ) size products which need 54-66 steps to open were developed. They were used to keep important documents or secrets safe inside. Unlike other normal box, no one can open it unless he/she knows the key steps to open it. Because not only it is useful to keep secrets safe but also its outlook is so beautiful as a kind of work of art, even though the prices were relatively hight, the Personal Secret Boxes were widespread to people of hight society.

Later into modern society, more reasonable boxes which need only 7-10 steps to open, were developed so that the public can easily purchase them. Now, as a best buying souvenir, many people who visit Hakone region purchase Himitsu-Bako. In may 1984, Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku was designated as a national traditional handcraft by the Trade & Industry Minister of Japan.

I don’t know how much of this story is true, but that was coming with the box.
Hope you enjoy that.

If you want to see some greater boxes with huge numbers of steps to be opened, you just have to search youtube for that

I also want to catch the chance to thank my girlfriend vale*_* who gave me this gift :*