Japanese puzzle boxes are highly collectible. They are beautiful, functional and intriguing. Our wide selection and affordable prices will make it easy for you start or add to your collection of Japanese puzzle boxes.

Traditional Japanese puzzle boxes can be relatively simple to very challenging and almost impossible to open unless you follow the exact step by step procedure designed specifically for the particular box. Original instructions are included with all of our Japanese puzzle boxes, secret boxes, and trick boxes. Often these instructions or diagrams are in Japanese, but they are illustrated and easy to follow.

To solve a puzzle box, one or more sliding parts in one end are moved, allowing the other end to be moved slightly. This partially unlocks a side panel, which allows other pieces to be moved. These, in turn, partially unlock the top or bottom. This method is continued, moving around the box, until the top panel can slide, opening the box. Some of the more expensive boxes may allow both top and bottom panels to open, or have other secret compartments or drawers within. Interestingly, Puzzle Boxes have no lock and seemingly no opening. However, each box crafted includes very tricky mechanism(s).

Most Japanese personal secret boxes have a variety of difficulties, ranging from 4 to 66 moves. A few large puzzle boxes have exceptional numbers of moves, such as 78, 122, 119, or 125.

Secret Puzzle Box Patterns

 

Saya Pattern This Maze-like design, crafted in many variations including Kizaya, Jindai Saya and Red Saya to name a few, are very popular among collectors.  Because of the complexity of the pattern, many crafters have difficulty with matchlines of the kannuki, (slides) making it a bit easier to see the opening mechanism of the Secret Puzzle Box.

Yosegi Pattern

Kuroasa Pattern

Kiasa Pattern

Akaasa Pattern

Hineri Pattern

Sizes of the Traditional Japanese Puzzle Box (Himitsu Bako)

The Hakone, Japan Puzzle Box Creators use the ‘sun’ system to describe the size of a traditional puzzle box. "Sun" is a traditional Japanese unit of measure to denote length. The translation of Sun to a length that we can relate is that 1 Sun is about 30.3 mm or about 1.22 inches. This system is used to describe the approximate size of Hakone, Japan Puzzle Boxes. Note that the sun system does not describe the width or height, or the size of the inside compartment.

We consider Mini Trick Boxes, 1 & 1.5 sun boxes to be miniature (mame). 2, 2.5, and 3 sun boxes are small boxes. 4 sun boxes are medium size. 5 sun is the standard size. 6 sun is large. And 7 sun is very large.

 

 

Measurements and "Sun" Sizes in Inches

Small Boxes 1 sun = 1.22 1.5 sun = 1.83 2 sun = 2.44 2.5 sun = 3.05 3 sun = 3.66

Medium Boxes 4 sun = 4.88 5 sun = 6.10

Large Boxes 6 sun = 7.32 7 sun = 8.54

How to Care for Japanese Puzzle Boxes... Since Japanese puzzle boxes are intricate works of art and are made from exotic woods, Here are some things to keep in mind to insure that you are able to enjoy each Himitsu Bako for many years.

Avoid areas of high humidity and high temperature. To clean, wipe the surface with a clean dry cloth. Do NOT use abrasive cleansers. DO NOT drop or allow impact to the box. NEVER force pieces to move.

Yoshio Okiyama was born in Hakone, Japan in 1924. He began apprenticing with his father (Yoshitaro Okiyama) at the early age of twelve and grew to be a third generation Master Craftsman of the Himitsu Bako.

Mr. Yoshio Okiyama crafting a Koyosegi Puzzle Box

He was credited with developing the 27, 54 and 66 step move puzzle box and won a variety of awards for his secret puzzle boxes. In 1994 he received commendations by the Association of Traditional Crafts Development of Industry in Japan. After becoming ill in 2000, he was unable to continue his craft and passed away in 2003, never having an apprentice.

Many of his boxes available among collectors today have increased over 500% in value as they are highly sought after and very collectible.  In late 1999, Mr. Okiyama was known to stamp his signature hanko inside many of his boxes, further distinguishing his work from others.

To learn more about Yoshio Okiyama and the history of Himitsu Bako  email us about obtaining a copy of A Collection of Works by Secret Box Master Craftsman Yoshio Okiyama.