22/06/2026
Today, I’d like to introduce Hakone Yosegi Zaiku, a traditional form of Japanese woodcraft.
Hakone Yosegi Zaiku is a traditional Japanese craft officially designated by the government and primarily produced in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture. By making use of the natural colors and grain patterns of various types of wood and meticulously assembling them with exceptional precision, skilled artisans create beautiful geometric designs.
Three Distinctive Features 1. No Artificial Coloring The red, yellow, green, white, black, and other colors seen in Yosegi patterns are all derived from the natural colors of the wood itself. For example, dogwood (mizuki) is used for white, nigaki wood for yellow, and buried wood for black.
2. Two Manufacturing Techniques • Zuku-bari: A technique in which a patterned wooden block (known as a taneita) is shaved into paper-thin sheets using a large hand plane (ōkanna) and then applied to the surface of boxes and other items. • Muku-zukuri: A technique in which the patterned wooden block itself is carved and shaped, often on a lathe, into three-dimensional objects such as trays, bowls, and sake cups.
3. The Secret Box (Karakuri Puzzle Box) The Secret Box, also known as a Karakuri Puzzle Box, is one of the most iconic products of Hakone Yosegi Zaiku. This cleverly designed box can only be opened by sliding its panels in a specific sequence. Renowned for its intricate mechanism and exquisite craftsmanship, it is highly popular both in Japan and abroad.
You can also watch videos of the craftsmen creating these works.
Please enjoy watching them.
今回は箱根寄木細工を紹介します。
箱根寄木細工（はこねよせぎざいく）は、神奈川県箱根町を中心に作られている国の伝統的工芸品です。様々な木々が持つ自然の色や木目を生かし、職人の手によって寸分の狂いもなく寄せ合わせることで美しい幾何学模様を作り出します。
3つの大きな特徴着色は一切なし模様に使われている赤、黄、緑、白、黒などの色彩は、すべて天然の木の色そのものです。例えば、白い模様には水木（ミズキ）、黄色にはニガキ、黒には埋もれ木などが使われます。
2つの製造技法「ヅク貼り」: 模様を組み合わせて作った木のブロック（種板）を、大鉋（おおかんな）で紙のように薄く削り、箱などの表面に貼り付ける技法です。「ムク作り」: 模様ブロックをそのままろくろなどで削り出し、お盆や器、ぐい呑みなど立体的な形にする技法です。
「ひみつ箱（からくり箱）」箱の側面を特定の順番でスライドさせないと開かない仕掛け箱で、国内外から高い人気を誇る箱根寄木細工の代表作です。
作品と一緒に職人の製造工程も動画で見れます。
ぜひご覧ください。
