Aruki for Mame box
It’s another hot day here in Japan. There’s no rain forecast in our area for now, but it seems two typhoons are approaching from the south. We’re entering the season when typhoons become more frequent.
Today, I spent the entire day working on the 14-step Mame Himitsu-bako (mini puzzle boxes). I assembled the frame panels I made yesterday, and then created the Aruki (moving) panels to fit those frames. In the afternoon, I attached the Aruki panels to the frames. With that, the main structure of the boxes is now complete.
These boxes are being made for an order from the Hakone market, and I’m working to have them ready before the "Obon holiday" in Japan. Around mid-August, many tourists visit Hakone, especially since it overlaps with students’ summer vacation. While it’s true that not many Japanese people buy puzzle boxes, it’s always better to have enough stock.
From what I’ve heard, most of the customers who buy puzzle boxes at the shops are tourists from overseas. Hakone is a popular travel destination because it’s only about 1.5 hours from Tokyo, where the main international airport is.
In Japan, many companies close for the Obon holiday, which is a time to honor and remember one’s ancestors. People often return to their hometowns and visit family graves. You could say it’s like a summer break for office workers.
This year, thanks to how the weekends and national holidays line up, some companies will have a long break — from August 9th to the 17th.
The traditional Obon period is from August 13th to 16th.
As for my family, we already visited and cleaned the family grave this past Sunday. We don’t stick too closely to the dates, so we went a bit early 😄
Later today, I’ll attach the finished checkered Yosegi sheet (Ichimatsu Yosegi) to a wooden board. I’ll only slice the amount I need for now, since I want to use it for some 3-sun 18-step boxes that I plan to make next.
If I were to slice all the Ichimatsu blocks I have, I’d end up with around 200 sheets — and I don’t have time to do all that today. So I’ll cut and use only what I need for now, and save the rest for another day.
Today, I spent the entire day working on the 14-step Mame Himitsu-bako (mini puzzle boxes). I assembled the frame panels I made yesterday, and then created the Aruki (moving) panels to fit those frames. In the afternoon, I attached the Aruki panels to the frames. With that, the main structure of the boxes is now complete.
These boxes are being made for an order from the Hakone market, and I’m working to have them ready before the "Obon holiday" in Japan. Around mid-August, many tourists visit Hakone, especially since it overlaps with students’ summer vacation. While it’s true that not many Japanese people buy puzzle boxes, it’s always better to have enough stock.
From what I’ve heard, most of the customers who buy puzzle boxes at the shops are tourists from overseas. Hakone is a popular travel destination because it’s only about 1.5 hours from Tokyo, where the main international airport is.
In Japan, many companies close for the Obon holiday, which is a time to honor and remember one’s ancestors. People often return to their hometowns and visit family graves. You could say it’s like a summer break for office workers.
This year, thanks to how the weekends and national holidays line up, some companies will have a long break — from August 9th to the 17th.
The traditional Obon period is from August 13th to 16th.
As for my family, we already visited and cleaned the family grave this past Sunday. We don’t stick too closely to the dates, so we went a bit early 😄
Later today, I’ll attach the finished checkered Yosegi sheet (Ichimatsu Yosegi) to a wooden board. I’ll only slice the amount I need for now, since I want to use it for some 3-sun 18-step boxes that I plan to make next.
If I were to slice all the Ichimatsu blocks I have, I’d end up with around 200 sheets — and I don’t have time to do all that today. So I’ll cut and use only what I need for now, and save the rest for another day.
