Box Size and Mechanism Operation
The rain of the past few days finally stopped, and today was sunny from the morning. The humidity was still high early on, but by late morning, the air felt fresh and comfortable. At this time of year, rainy and sunny days seem to take turns. I suppose it is a sign that autumn is gradually giving way to winter.
Once the air became drier and the conditions improved, I got straight to work attaching the Aruki (sliding panels) I had already made. I was finally able to resume work on the 5-sun 27-steps puzzle boxes, which had been stored for a while. These boxes are for shops waiting for them for the Christmas sales season, so I hope to ship them as soon as they are finished. This batch also includes a model with checkered Yosegi side panels, which I hope will make lovely Christmas gifts.
The 5-sun size is a fairly large puzzle box. Of course, boxes do not have to follow these sizes, but there are traditional size standards. Among those sizes, 5-sun is the second largest I currently make. I used to make 7-sun boxes, about 21 cm (8.3 inches) long, but I no longer make them. My largest size now is 6-sun, about 18 cm (7.1 inches). The 5-sun size is popular as a gift, though some people may find it a little large to hold. In that case, placing it on a table while operating the mechanism can help. If you prefer to hold the box in your hands, a 3-sun or 4-sun size may be a better choice. Recently, I had a chance to speak directly with some Japanese customers, and many said the 3-sun size was easy to operate. Especially for someone trying a puzzle box for the first time, a size that fits comfortably in their hands may be easier to use. When you are still figuring out which parts move, it helps to be able to turn the box around easily in your hands. Once you become more familiar with the mechanism, the 4-sun size should also feel easy to handle. The 5-sun size may take a little practice to handle because it is larger, but it has an impressive appearance. I think that is why many people choose it as a gift.
Once the air became drier and the conditions improved, I got straight to work attaching the Aruki (sliding panels) I had already made. I was finally able to resume work on the 5-sun 27-steps puzzle boxes, which had been stored for a while. These boxes are for shops waiting for them for the Christmas sales season, so I hope to ship them as soon as they are finished. This batch also includes a model with checkered Yosegi side panels, which I hope will make lovely Christmas gifts.
The 5-sun size is a fairly large puzzle box. Of course, boxes do not have to follow these sizes, but there are traditional size standards. Among those sizes, 5-sun is the second largest I currently make. I used to make 7-sun boxes, about 21 cm (8.3 inches) long, but I no longer make them. My largest size now is 6-sun, about 18 cm (7.1 inches). The 5-sun size is popular as a gift, though some people may find it a little large to hold. In that case, placing it on a table while operating the mechanism can help. If you prefer to hold the box in your hands, a 3-sun or 4-sun size may be a better choice. Recently, I had a chance to speak directly with some Japanese customers, and many said the 3-sun size was easy to operate. Especially for someone trying a puzzle box for the first time, a size that fits comfortably in their hands may be easier to use. When you are still figuring out which parts move, it helps to be able to turn the box around easily in your hands. Once you become more familiar with the mechanism, the 4-sun size should also feel easy to handle. The 5-sun size may take a little practice to handle because it is larger, but it has an impressive appearance. I think that is why many people choose it as a gift.