(Click image for enlarged view)

 

 

 

 





 
Top
Bottom
Open/Side

Utamaro KTRa
6 Sun 23 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto
Zougan artist:
Yoshihiro Ishikawa
190x135x80 mm

Ribbon KUb
6 Sun 23 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto
Zougan artist:
Yoshihiro Ishikawa
190x135x80 mm
Utamaro
6 Sun 27 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto
Zougan artist:
SadaoTakahashi
Reverse: Crane
Cherry blossom zougan on all sides
183x127x80 mm

Lunda cirrhata Akaasa
5 Sun 10 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto
Zougan artist:
Haruo Uchiyama
150x100x60 mm

Trout Kuroasa
5 Sun 10 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto

Zougan artist:
Haruo Uchiyama

150x100x60 mm

Kaminari Fuji
5 Sun 27 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto
Zougan artist:
Yoshihiro Ishikawa
Reverse: Sakura tree

150x105x75 mm

Aka Fuji
5 Sun 27 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto
Zougan artist:
Yoshihiro Ishikawa
Reverse: Apricot tree

150x105x75 mm

Jindai-Saya
5 Sun 42 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto
152x106x70 mm

 
Yaeasa 5 Sun 10 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto
150x100x60 mm
Matsukawabishi
5 Sun 9 Step
With drawer

150x98x71 mm

Mawariyabane
5 Sun 18 Step
Dual compartment

Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto

150x100x62 mm

 
Ichimatsu
5 Sun 10 Step
Box craftsman:
Hiroyuki Oka
(Signed)

150x100x69 mm
Uroko-Kirichigai
4 Sun 27 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto

120x80x55 mm
Kagome
4 Sun 4 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto

120x80x55

Sansyoku-Kikkou
4 Sun 4 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto

120x80x55 mm

 

Kiasa
4 Sun 27 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto

120x80x55

Seighiah
4 Sun 27 Step
Box craftsman:
Yoshikazu Goto

120x80x55 mm

Yosegi
7 Sun 78 Step
Box craftsman:
Hiroyuki Oka
(Signed)
210x133x108 mm

Sansyoku-Kikkou
7 Sun 72+1 Step
Box craftsman:
Shigeo Yamanaka
Material: walnut

220x160x115 mm

 

a Five boxes were made with this combination of zougan pictures, the same combination used on the famous 119-step Okiyama box.  
b
Six boxes were made   

Himitsu Bako (Japanese puzzle, or secret, boxes) are categorized by

· The length of the box as measured in sun, an old
Japanese unit of measure equal to 1.22 inch
· The number of steps, or moves, needed to open the box, and
· The marquetry pattern (yosegi) used as decoration.

if it has marquetry pictures (zougan) applied, is known as Zougan Himitsu-Bako .

Craftsmen:
Yoshikazu Goto (born 1935)

Shigeo Yamanaka (born 1936)
Hiroyuki Oka (born 1970)

Box Patterns

Utamaro: woodblock artists known for Ukiyoe-style prints
Kaminari Fuji: Mt. Fuji with lightning
Aka Fuji: Red Mt. Fugi
Lunda cirrhata: Tufted puffin

Here are some reputable online retailers of Japanese puzzle boxes

                                                               

Back to Jared's Puzzle Page