18-Sep-2024
The mornings and evenings have become a bit cooler, but it was still very hot during the day. The summer heat continues here in Japan.
Today, I’ve been working on making the 2-sun cube 7-step Japanese puzzle box. I’ve finished attaching the top and bottom panels, and before heading home, I’ll attach the side panels as well. Once that’s done, I’ll apply pressure to ensure the panels adhere properly and leave it overnight.
I am currently making three different types of 2-sun cube boxes at the same time. One is a natural wood type, using four types of natural wood (keyaki, purpleheart, mizuki, and hoo wood) for the top and bottom panels, with Hoo wood for the side panels. The other two feature a checkered pattern (ichimatsu) design and a traditional yosegi design for the top and bottom panels, with walnut wood for the side panels.
I originally planned for the natural wood design to be a limited edition, but due to its popularity, I have decided to reproduce it. The side panels use Hoo wood, which is also a very high-quality material, making it suitable for the panels. Hoo wood is native to Japan and has been used since ancient times.The ones planted overseas are also referred to as “magnolia”.
Hoo wood is often favored in the patterns of yosegi-zaiku, and its color varies. It typically has a grayish tone, but occasionally, there are beautiful green section. In yosegi, the green parts are particularly sought after. However, in recent years, this beautiful green wood has become rarer, and its price has increased. In the past, hoo wood was used to make traditional Japanese footwear called “geta.” Geta made from hoo wood were considered luxury items because the wood is of perfect softness, with straight, even grain. Due to its elasticity, hoo wood is ideal for use in the inner parts of Japanese puzzle boxes, particularly for the “bocchi” mechanism. However, because it’s so precious, I refrain from using it for that purpose😅
I purchased this beautiful green hoo wood about 20 years ago and have it stocked in my workshop. At that time, I specifically requested the lumberyard to find hoo wood with the nicest green color, and they managed to source it for me. Nowadays, it’s much harder to find such wood. Although I have a limited supply, I plan to use it carefully and sparingly over time.
