Odawara Hakone Association of "Karakuri Puzzle"
and throughout Japan
In the summer of 2007, our association was created.
Craftsmen, Hakone Works Shop Owners, and Puzzle lovers
gathered to make this group.
We wrestle with the spread of this area's and other Karakuri puzzles.
In 2008 February,the 1th Karakuri Puzzle Festival was held in Hakone.
And then, in 2009 July and August, the 2nd Karakuri Puzzle Festival was held
in Odawara & Hakone.
We held a stamp rally, Karakur ipuzzle exhibition,
workshops of making Karakuri puzzles,
in addition to others.
The festival was a great success.
Our group is going to hold various events such as "Karakuri Puzzle Festival"
and "Karakuri Puzzle Cpmpetition" in the future,to.
■■■■■■ Activeties for 2010 ■■■■■■
Karakuri-Puzzle Festival 2010
July 10th 〜 August 31th
In Odawara & Hakone areas
There were many events for the whole family.
Such as a stamp rally, Karakuri-Puzzle work shops,
exhibition of Karakuri furniture and Karakuri boxes, Karakuri-Puzzle performances,
exhibition of Karakuri-Puzzle idea contest and many others.
And especially, there was an International Puzzle Meeting during this summer!
< Stamp rally >
A stamp rally was held in the Hakone area.
If you went to the shop or museum which joined the stamp rally,
you could get a stamp from each location.
The top prizes included Karakuri Boxes.,
complimentary museum tickets and complimentary lodging tickets, among others.
< Karakuri-Puzzle Workshops >
14 kinds of Karakuri-Puzzle Work shops were held.
613 children participated!
Everyone worked hard at making their Karakuri-Puzzle.
Children and their family enjoyed the work shops.
< Exhibition & Performance >
Hakone Local Museum (Yumoto)
10th July - 31st August
Exhibition of Secret Boxes
and
karakuri Boxes.
Yoshio Okiyama & Yoshiyuki Ninomiya
Secret Boxes & Karakuri Boxes
A lot of traditional wooden craft products have been produced in the Hakone region.
We can classify the products into 2 groups. One is works made with a turning lathe;
such as Trays, Bowls, and Tables for tea things, Round Trays, and Toys.
Another is works of Furnishings; such as small Chests, Letter boxes, Cigarette Cases, and Toys. And as the skills of Yosegi-Zaiku, Zogan Art and Japanese lacquers, which decorate the surface of the products have been perfected, the products are more attractive.
We introduced Secret Boxes and Karakuri Works at this exhibition.
These were Furnishings works.
The Hakone Karakuri Works were developed by many craftsmen.
The origin of it is in Edo era, but we exhibit various Secret Boxes and Karakuri Works which were made between the Meij era and the present.
There were the works that were made by Mr.Yoshio OKIYAMA who was called "Master of Secret Boxes", historic works, and Ninomiya's Karakuri Boxes at this exhibition.
Master of Secret Boxes, Yoshio OKiyama's works.
Ninomiya's works, Karakuri Chests.
Nimomiya performed every Saturday and Sunday.
< The 2nd Karakuri-Puzzle Idea Contest >
In the spring of 2010, the 2nd annual Karakuri-Puzzle Idea Contest was held.
A total of 100 ideas were received from all over Japan.
The theme of this contest was 'Karakuri Box'.
There were a lot of unique ideas.
In the end, six ideas were selected.
Karakuri creation group craftsmen made those ideas out of wood.
To celebrate, a commendation ceremony was held at Hakone Open Air Museum on August 21st.
The six winners and members of 'Odawara Hakone Association of Karakuri Puzzle and throughout Japan' were there to take part.
The winning works are,
「Astronomical Telescope」,「 Grand piano」, 「New Year」,「Vaulting Horse」,
「Birdhouse」, and 「Brush the tooth!!」
Each work is unique !
< International Puzzle Meeting in Hakone>
12th - 15th July
The International Puzzle Meeting was held in Hakone.
A lot of Puzzle fans and their families came to Hakone from all over the world!
There were a lot of events for people who enjoy puzzles.
- Karakuri Welcome Banquet -
(Yumoto Fujiya Hotel)
12th July
This was a welcome party.
The craftsmen of Karakuri Creation Group gave a welcoming party to Puzzle friends.
There were many performances, including the giving of presents, introduction of craftsmen, and playing music.
- Kamei's workshop "Dice" -
(Hakone Local Museum)
13th July
"Dice" is one of Kamei's most famous works, as you know.
The lecturer was Akio Kamei himself, of course.
Participants had the opportunity to make "Dice" themselves. It was valuable experience for them.
- Puzzle Hunting Rally -
(Hakone Area)
13th July
This event was held as a shopping and quiz rally.
Participants travelled by a chartered bus around sightseeing spots in Hakone.
They enjoyed shopping and sightseeing, and a quiz.
The top prizes included Karakuri Boxes.
shopping & Japanese tea ceremony
- Lectures -
(Yumoto Fujiya Hotel)
14th July
There were three lectures.
1)<The history of Secret Boxes : by Yoshiyuki Ninomiya>
2)<Japanese Karakuri lock : Junichi Kato>
3)<The skill and wisdom in Japanese Ancient Architecture : Yukiji Zenba>
- Puzzle Party -
(Yumoto Fujiya Hotel)
14th July
This Party was the main event of the International Puzzle Meeting in Hakone.
It's a type of flea market of Puzzles.
Many people opened their puzzle shops and many others purchased puzzles from them.
At this party, Mr. Kazuo Tani, who is a carpenter, demonstrated Japanese wood planning.
- Award Dinner -
(Yumoto Fujiya Hotel)
14th July
This party was the last big event for most puzzle fans who came overseas.
There was also the award ceremony of the Nob Yoshigahara competition.
Everyone enjoyed the last night in Hakone.
- Lecture and Exhibition -
(The satellite office of Kanagawa Prefecture at Odawara)
15th July
Lectures were given by Mr. Jerry Slocum and Mr. Naoaki Takashima.
1)<Early Japanese Export Puzzles : Jerry Slocum>
2)<Interesting Puzzles and Toys from all over the world : Naoaki Takashima>
And there was also an exhibition of Karakuri Creation Group.
KARAKURI-PUZZLE FESTIVAL will be held again next summer as well.
Please come and enjoy Karakuri in Odawara & Hakone.
■■■■■■ Activeties for 2009 ■■■■■■
Karakuri-Puzzle Festival 2009
July 18th 〜 August 31th
In Odawara & Hakone areas
There were many events for the whole family.
Such as, a stamp rally, Karakuri-Puzzle work shops,
exhibition of Karakuri furniture and Karakuri boxes, Karakuri-Puzzle perfprmances,
exhibition of Karakuri-Puzzle idea contest,and many others.
< Stamp rally >
A stamp rally was held in Hakone area.
If you successfully opened the Karakuri Boxes, you could get a stamp for each one.
Or you could put the puzzle quiz in for a drawing.
Completed stamp cards and puzzle quizzez were then selected at random in a drawing.
Those who won received prizes related to puzzles.
The top prizes included Karakuri Boxes.,
complimentary museum tickets and complimentary lodging tickets, among others.
< Karakuri-Puzzle Work shops >
We held 14 kinds of Kaeakuri-Puzzle Work shops.
430 children participated !
Everyone worked hard at making their Karakuri-Puzzle.
Sushi-Box was designed from the Hakone traditional 'secret box'
Chirdren and their familly enjoyed the work shops.
< Exhibition & Performance >
Fujiya-Hotel (Miyanoshita)
Exhibition of Karakuri furniture
and
karakuri Boxes.
We performed everyday.
Hakone Toy-museum
Exhibition of Karakuri Monopoly Maze
and
Kaerakuri Boxes
「Karakuri Boxes」 →→
「Gate of marrige」 ↓↓
Ｉｎ ｂｏｔｈ ｏｆ ｔｈｏｓｅ ｅｘｈｉｂｉｔｉｏｎｓ,
everybody enjoyed
KARAKURIWORLD !
Karakuri-Puzzle performance
There was a performance
by Mr.hirano(Cosmo products)
at souvenir store 'Mitsuki'
near Yumoto station
His performance was wornderful !!
Many people stopped and enjoyed
his performance
and Karakuri Puzzle
< The 1st Karakuri-Puzzle Idea Contest >
In the spring of 2009,
the 1st Karakuri-Puzzle Idea contest was held.
A total of 128 ideas were received
from all over Japan.
The thema of this contest was
'Katrakuri Box'.
There were a lot of unique ideas.
In the end, five ideas were selected.
Karakuri creation group craftsman
made them those ideas of wood.
To celebrate, a commendation ceremoyn was held
at Hakone Open Air Museum on August 22nd.
The five winners and memberes of 'Odawara Hakone Association of Karakuri Puzzle and througtout Japan'
were there to take part.
The winning works are,
「Tako-yaki」,「 Lucky cat」, 「Fruit pafe」,「 Mochi-tuski」,
and「 After the rain」.
Each work is unique !
KARAKURI-PUZZLE FESTIVAL will be held next summer as well.
Please come and enjoy Karakuri in Odawara & Hakone.