The cold weather continues, but today feels a little calmer with no wind. The feeling of the New Year has completely faded from everyday life, but shops in the neighborhood already seem busy preparing for the next event. In Japan, before Valentine’s Day, there is a traditional event called “Setsubun”. This year, Setsubun falls on February 3. The word Setsubun means “dividing the seasons,” and it is held on the day before Risshun, which marks the beginning of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar. This event is meant to drive away bad luck and pray for good health. During Setsubun, people throw roasted soybeans to chase away evil spirits, and then eat the same number of beans as their age. In many places, people dressed as demons are part of the event, and beans are thrown at them. At famous shrines, sumo wrestlers or celebrities sometimes throw bags of beans to the crowd. Another custom is eating a special sushi roll called “Ehomaki” while facing a specific direction that changes each year. It is believed to bring good luck. This year, the lucky direction is said to be south-southeast. Because of this, many supermarkets and sushi shops are selling large numbers of Ehomaki.
Today, I came to the workshop again in the afternoon and took care of a few small tasks. Since I had some time, I started making the inner box that will be placed inside the 5-sun, 10-step puzzle box with a drawer, which I mentioned in a recent post (photo). Today, I prepared the materials and made the frame of the box. I couldn’t find the notes from the last time I made this, so this time I decided to measure directly from a 5-sun puzzle box with a drawer and work from those dimensions. Basically, I make the inner box about 4 to 5 mm smaller than the inner size of the 5-sun box. In the past, I used Shina plywood for the top panel (the lid), but this time I decided to use an MDF board with Makore wood veneer, which I purchased recently. For the solid ichimatsu yosegi piece placed at the center of the top panel, I already have one made from before, so I will use that.
Thinking about it now, it may have been about fifteen years since I last made this box. This box has no special mechanism and opens in just one step, but because it is made to fit perfectly inside a 5-sun puzzle box with a drawer, it seems to give a nice sense of added value. Perhaps because of that, it was surprisingly popular. I fondly remember an American shop owner who had been working with me since I first became independent. He especially liked this 5-sun box with a drawer that included the inner box, and he often purchased it. He is still doing well, but now his daughter has taken over the shop. In the past, since this box was meant to be placed inside another box, I sold it without any finish. This time, however, I am thinking of applying a light finish to it.
