Japanese Puzzle Box

The original fidget toy: a tactile wooden puzzle box inspired by the artisanal craft and souvenirs which became a popular in the 19th century. The Sekisho Karakuri Museum in Japan’s Hakone region celebrates the compelling boxes and the artisans who, to this day, make fine, marquetry examples with a dizzying number of tricks top open. Challenge yourself to slide open – and then ‘lock’ – a fun modern-day version of the boxes. Requiring 10 steps or ‘tricks’ to solve, puzzlers will be delighted to find a little ‘prize’ tucked inside to celebrate their success: a sheet of colourful origami paper and instructions to fold your own paper crane, a popular Japanese symbol of long life, hope and good fortune. If you get stuck, the packaging contains a solution scroll which illustrates the steps to open the box. Smartly decorated on the outside with a black-painted, inclined cross-pattern known as ‘Savagata’ in Japan, the slanting pattern is inspired by the weave of fine silk. An unputdownable puzzle which makes a home for small treasures once you have solved the sequence to open and close it.

Natural- and black-painted pine wood
Puzzle box c.9 x 6.5 x 5.5cm; internal space c.4 x 5 x 4.5cm
Illustrated solution scroll
Origami paper-sheet ‘prize’ inside the box, 9cm sq, with paper crane-folding instruction
13 x 8.5 x 7.5cm box
1 player, age 10+
Paper and card can be recycled