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| About Us |
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 | Please come see us,
when you visit Hakone-Japan ! |
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| Address | » | 158 Hakone, Hakone-machi,
Ashigara-shimo-gun,
Kanagawa Pref. 250-0521, Japan | | Tel. | » | 81-460-83-6030 | | Fax. | » | 81-460-83-6280 | | E-mail | » | izumiya@yosegi.net |
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 | Introductions | |
| | Our product lines are traditional Japanese handicrafts unique to the Hakone area in Japan. Puzzle Boxes, Kumiki Puzzles, and various special Yosegi-Zaiku products are made by excellent handicraftsmen in Hakone Japan. |
| Mr. Yoshio Okiyama (1924-2003) |
 Mr.Yoshio Okiyama was born in Hakone, Japan in 1924. At age 12, he started making Himitsu-Bako while apprenticing with his father Mr. Yoshitaro Okiyama. Winning many awards through the years for his hand crafted boxes; Mr. Okiyama developed the mechanism for 27 step, 54 step, and 66 step move Himitsu-Bako. Mr. Okiyama has never had an apprentice, he is recognized as a third generation Himitsu-Bako Matser Craftsman. In 1994 the Association of Traditional Crafts Development of Industry in Japan commended Mr. Okiyama. |
|  Okiyama's signature stamp
inside of the box |
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| Mr. Akio Kamei is one of skillful craftsmen makes Puzzle Boxes which has a tricky mechanism. |
| Mr. Hiroshi Iwahara is wonderful Craftsman and Mr. Kamei's apprentice. |
| Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box) |
| The Personal Secret Box is entirely enclosed on the surface. There is no lock and seemingly no opening. It is apparently just a wooden block. However, it includes a very tricky mechanism. It is impossible to open it, unless you follow the exact step-by-step procedure designed specifically for it. This is why it is called "Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box)." Your secret will be safe inside. |
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| IZUMIYA Original Himitsu-Bako |
| You will find the distinctive mark of craftstudio "IZUMIYA" inside of all boxes. The "IZUMIYA MARK" certify the best quality Himitsu-Bako among others. Please check if your box has it! Here is introduced high class Himitsu-Bako which are originated and limited by IZUMIYA. |
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| Zougan (Marquetry) Design |
| "Zougan" means "Marquetry". The picture on the surface is made by Zougan marquetry technique. The woods of various natural colors are inlaied in board to produce a certain picture block. This picture block is shaved into thin sheets and stuck on the Himitsu-Bako. This process is very intricate and timely. Those "Zougan Himitsu-Bako" are produced by being combined with two Traditional Techniques, Himitsu-Bako and Zougan Art Pictures. This high class Himitsu-Bako is originated and limited by "IZUMIYA BRAND". |
| Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box) History |
| Amongst the various art works of wood in the world today, the Himitsu-Bako produced in the 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 high quality wood and the expertise of three generations of master craftsmen 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 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. |
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| It is adorned with Yosegi-Zaiku and/or Moku-Zougan. The Yosegi-Zaiku is a mosaic woodwork usually applied to small handicrafts 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 Handicraft 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 these 100 people, only about 30 craftsmen produce Yosegi-Zaiku and about four craftsmen produce Moku-zougan. The Himitsu-Bako is produced by only 9 traditional craftsmen. These craftsmen do not make the Yosegi-Zaiku, which adorns 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 craftsmen is about 60 years old. |
| Yosegi-Zaiku is a traditional Japanese work of art, a mosaic woodwork usually applied to small handicrafts such as trays, boxes and chests. It takes advantage of the wide variety of natural wood colors and textures to produce their elaborate geometric patterns. |
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Yosegi-Zaiku is a traditional Japanese work of art, a mosaic woodwork usually applied to small handicrafts such as trays, boxes and chests.
The Hakone Mountains are noted for their great variety of trees. Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku is a inlaid mosaic woodwork unique to this area and takes advantage of this wide variety of natural wood colors and textures to produce their elaborate geometric patterns. |
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| The Principal Wood Materials of Yosegi-Zaiku |
| Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku was first created in the early Heian Period, more than 1,000 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 around there. "Chaya" is a current tea shop, where travellers took a rest enjoying surrounding views. There at Chayas, Kagokakis started selling Yosegi-Zaiku as their secondary job. |
| The Principal Yosegi Patterns |
| Then, about 100 years ago, new types of Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku was added, which was Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box). Originally "5 sun (10x15x6cm) " size or "6 sun (13x19x9cm)" 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 secret safe inside but also its outlook is so beautiful as a kind of work of art, even though the prices were relatively high, the Personal Secret Boxes were widespread to the people of high society. |
| Later into modern society, more reasonable boxes which need only 7-10 steps to open, were developed so that the public people easily purchase them. Now, as a best buying souvenir, many people who visit Hakone region purchase Personal Secret Box. In May 1984, Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku was designated a national traditional handicraft by the International Trade & Industry Minister of Japan. |
| To our regret, there are few successors to this traditional technique. Hakone-Yosegi-Zaiku is suffering from lack of skillful artisans now. |
| Each of different-colored wood pieces are planed to the proper thickness to make a target pattern. The resulting wood sheets are glued together in order of the pattern. |
| | | The layered wood sheets are firmly squeezed in a vise. |
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| The squeezed layered sheets are sawn to fit a mold. A piece to make a unit pattern is now produced. |
| | | The piece is planed accurately to fit another mold. |
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| The glue is spread out on the several completed pieces. |
| | | The glued pieces are tied together to form a unit pattern. |
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| The block of a unit pattern is sawn into several slices. |
| | | The slices are glued together to form a larger pattern. This repeated process of cutting and gluing makes the pattern more intricate. |
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| The plate of the completed pattern is shaved into thin sheets with a special plane. |
| | | The sheets are ironed and stuck on the products. |
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| Zougan (Marquetry) is a traditional Japanese work of art on which elaborate patterns (usually pictures of such as Ukiyoe or landscape) made of wood, are applied to decorate product's surface. Zougan, inlaid with wood, is unique to the Hakone region in Japan. |
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| Born in 1958, Mr. Ishikawa grew up in the Hakone area of Japan with a growing interest in Zougan-Zaiku artistry. With more than 20 years of mastering the Zougan-Zaiku technique, he has achieved a skill and inborn talent that has been honored by regional art exhibitions time and time again. Using only a sawing machine to cut the various woods used for his intricately woven masterpieces, Mr. Ishikawa has preserved an art form unrivaled throughout the world. |
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| Zougan Techniques & History |
| Zougan means "marquetry". The marquetry art form originated about three thousand years ago with the Eguptians. The Pharaohs of that time used this type of inlay as decoration on thrones, chests, ceremonial items and most furniture. As this marquetry art work traveled through Persia, India, China and to Japan, it was used in complex wooden floor designs and wood mosaics in wall and furniture decorations. Small inlay picture designs were found on boxes, caskets, tombs, reliquaries and ceremonial regalia. In eighth-century Japan, wealthy political figures employed marquetry craftsmen to create beautiful works of art. |
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Zougan Craftsmen chisel the figure of waves on wood blocks one by one.
Then, the wood piece of the wave is inlayed into the wave carved into the wooden picture. |
| Trick Chest ( Trick Desk ) |
Trick Chest is one of the traditional Yosegi-Zaiku products. All the trick chests you find here are IZUMIYA's original. You cannot buy them in other places than here.
You can store things in or keep the secret inside. It fits your room as an artistic furniture of Japanese taste. |
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| "KOKESHI"- Kokeshi Doll is a famous Japanese handicraft and has been made in Kantou area for a long time. |
| Creative Kokeshi Handicrafts |
| Kokeshi dolls made from Japanese wood turnery technique has two types: Traditional Kokeshi which is based on the tradition, and Creative Kokeshi which is based on the artist's creativity. |
| The Traditional Kokeshi is a local art specialized in the North East Provinces,which originated in the later era of Edo Period, subdivided by the locality of workshop as called Naruko-series, Tsuchiyu series, etc., each has special features and designs and their technique has been handed from the master to the pupil. |
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| On the other hand, the Creative kokeshi formed by the free and unrestrained imagination of an individual artist, are manufactured by their unique techniques, have developed after World War II. Since 1954, the prime Minister's prize has been awarded to the best work of Creative Kokeshi each year, for 30 years, and the creative activity has been stimulated by efforts of many artists, and the specific charm of the Creative Kokeshi incorporated with special technique of engraving, baking, etc., have been catching much attention of the public, an the superior works of famous artists are appraised as the unique works of art. |
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