The Himitsu-Bako (Personal Secret Box) is a traditional Japanese puzzle box that was designed over 150 years ago in the Hakone region of Japan.
The Hakone Mountains are noted for their great variety of trees.
The Japanese puzzle box takes advantage of this wide variety of natural wood colors and textures to produce their elaborate geometric patterns.
The appeal of the Japanese puzzle box is not merely in its entertainment qualities.
It is valued as a Yosegi-Zaiku is a mosaic woodwork usually applied to small handicrafts such as trays, boxes and chests.
This marquetry technique is originated in the late Edo Period, and in May of 1984, was designated a National Traditional Handicraft by the International Trade & Industry Minister.
The geometric design is made by binding together various shades of wood.
Shaved off with a special plane, very thin sheets of wood are then used as an outside finish for various objects such as boxes.