Karakuri Report No. 15
January 1, 2003

Topics:
*New secret box beginning production
*Nagoya exhibition title decided
*Karakuri door in production

NEW SECRET BOX BEGINNING PRODUCTION

We, the Karakuri creation group, have been devoting ourselves to the making of a new secret box since before the summer of 2002. We are now focusing on the steps to making the box.
As I write this newsletter, we are in the process of making 3 new kinds of products. we are working in earnest to complete the cutting of the rough material, letting it dry, as well as finishing the other necessary beginning steps.
Other works, such as several previously trial manufactured products and ideas have been investigated and accumulated by the group at the monthly meetings. Surface designs have already been decided, and are in parallel production.
Well, as far as this project goes, it's completely different from any other products plan. Within the group there is a partial charge for distribution of parts.

As far as the design, each member is responsible for his own work. About the design and ideas it was previously written in earlier new letters, that the groups accumulated know how thus far was going well, but it looks like original ideas will be introduced from the very first product.

For many years, skilled craftsman, Tatsuo Miyamoto has been in charge of continually making trick products. There is a special style for this plan. So far, the group has been working together in production towards one theme, because each member is skilled in different specialities, such as mosaics and toys. Therefore this style of team work has produced many products. At the same time, this comparatively mass produced style helps control the price, and aims to settle on the quality as the same craftsman makes his product.

Our "lay-out" member, Hiroyuki Oka, has been in charge of deciding the groups surface designs. These are Mr. Oka's original rough ideas that he has been investigating for more than 4 or 5 times. Mr. Oka also certainly struggles with the members selfish orders at the regular meetings. Though, thanks to him, everyone is finally able to agree and say, "This is a beautiful design." At this point I was planning on announcing the designs, but I think I'll keep it a secret. Please eagerly anticipate the announcement of the new products!



"THINK WITH YOUR HANDS! WOODEN KARAKURI EXHIBITION",
the new title for our Nagoya exhibition!

Karakuri Creation groups 2003 summer exhibition at Nagoya city's Science Museum has been titled, "Think with your hands! Wooden Karakuri exhibition". Less than half year remains. We are steadily working on the preparations.


"FROM BIRTH TO HEAVEN", new Karakuri door

One of the most important ideas of the Nagoya exhibition is the "Karakuri game of life". Almost all of the doors for this idea have been decided and are in production. The following picture is of the creators gathered for a specialists meeting. Since I ended up arriving a little late, I heard laughter coming from within... Which door will it be? What is usually a day off for most craftsmen, became an enjoyable time of concentration from morning till night.

Life is, "from the beginning of the first door to Heaven's gate". However, life is not limited to only 1 choice. Oh, I better not say anything more, I want it to be a surprise! At the factory some of the doors have been completed. Clearly this is not your average door. Even I am looking forward to seeing them all. We hope you will be just as amazed as we are as you enjoy experiencing our exhibition.


THE REMAKE OF OHKAWA TYPE SECRET BOX,
HISTORICAL PRODUCTS PHOTO,
and STEP 2 REMAKE.

In our history section, step 1 of the remake of historical products, we introduced to you in a previous newsletter, "another special trick, secret box"; the Ohkawa type secret box that was made. Yoshiyuki Ninomiya was the producer. We plan to show this at the exhibition

Still, we are gathering the karakuri workmanship historical materials, and as we obtain public establishments, and collectors help, we will promote the products pictures. Also, we have found some works that we've never seen. At present, we are arranging a large amount of pictures, but honestly, it's taking a lot of effort to know just how to use all of the gathered materials. We're still investigating this.

We are also promoting a remake of an extremely rare tabacco box.


THE GROUPS LOGO DECIDED.

The new logo for the group has been decided. What do you think of the first printing? We changed the design of the square box image for the Japanese letters for "karakuri". Now, we are in the process of printing various things, please look forward to our next newsletter.

NEW KARAKURI LOGO MARK.

Iwahara

In the near future, the KCG will challenge themselves to create a new secret box. The KCG will use their know how to strive to achieve some secret box exhibitions. The details haven't been decided yet. Until now, the mechanisms used in the traditional secret boxes have been an unlimited number of sliding devices. But we (The KCG)will use a variety of tricks. We will aim at displaying a number of various products, and plan to use our own original designs on the surface. Still, if you compare these with other karakuri products, they will seem rather simple. In order to control the cost of the product we will make the designs and shapes easy for mass production.
Well, now you know that the KCG will work hard on these new secret boxes.
However, the course of these products won't completely change. Of course, the KCG will continue to keep up with its regular creation activity. In addition to this, The KCG activities and plans will become a bit broader in scope. At the same time, the KCG believes that if this idea is successful, then it will help contribute towards the industries of the Odawara and Hakone areas.

In addition, in this news, we already introduced the name of the plan "a new secret box", but actually we aren't sure if we will use that name or not.
We also aren't quite sure what kind of products we can make. We plan to announce that at the 2003 Nagoya Exhibition.

A book of mechanisms, and a book of Hakone products history.

SUMMER 2003 NAGOYA EXHIBITION:
RESULTS OF THE HISTORICAL CORNER REPORT

One of our plans for the 2003 Nagoya Exhibition is preparation for this area's historical trick works. The KCG was able to get its hands on a very valuable himitsu bako. The creator of this box is Takajiro Ohkawa. This box was kept safe in Mr. Ohkawa's home. Many old secret boxes have been scattered or lost. Despite that this is actually a very precious product.
The mechanisms of this box are simple but, there is only this one original, which aroused our imagination.

Still, its said that there is another original. We are planning to recreate this one at the 2003 Nagoya Exhibition. At this exhibition we are able to show you 2 modern versions of the secret boxes.

We are continually investigating the documents. In fact, the data of the reports are extremely poor. However, from many historical books we were finally able to find a description. From this research we can see an even older history of the secret box. Unfortunately, that's all that we can tell you about it in this newsletter! It's still a secret! We hope you'll join us at the Nagoya Exhibition in the summer of 2003.


REPORT OF OUR MONTHLY MEETING
We have a meeting every month, and our general meeting was held on April 6th.

This summer the KCG is not having an exhibition. We are completely absorbed in the preparations for the Nagoya 2003 exhibition. We received a phone call from one of our customers, asking when this summer's exhibition would be. We are so sorry, but this year we aren't planning one.

Well, The KCG is having its monthly meeting this year too as usual. And we are continuing with the review of our products and preparations for the Nagoya exhibition. We have also started a study meeting for making new mechanisms.

We held a general meeting and thought back the last year on April 6th. We held Matsuya Exhibition, IPP competition - the products in the competition, Help for IPP Hakone tour, Arima-onsen exhibition and etc. We were extremely busy. At the end of the year, we had an intense review meeting on the improvement of the quality of our products. One year passed in this way.
In another year we will strive to do our absolute best for the Nagoya Exhibition 2003.

over

At the Arima Onsen Exhibition

Iwahara

Topics:
Exhibition at Arima Hot Springs
Report on new products exhibition held in Matsuya, etc..
Report of the Karakuri Creation Groups meeting


*Exhibition at Arima Hot Springs and Gosyobo*

    The summers display of new products have all been completed. With a slight exaggeration, there is no time to rest or even breathe before we open our next exhibition. This exhibition is located in Arima Hot Springs, near Osaka. Our new products display was located in the center of Tokyo. Compared to Tokyo, an exhibition in a hot springs town is quite a different feeling. This will be a somewhat bigger exhibition than the summer display in Tokyo. This is the first time for us to hold such a large exhibition near Osaka. For those of you living near the Osaka area, please come and visit!

Title:    Even adults want to play!
Date:    Oct. 3rd - 29th, 2001
Place:    Galleria Le Tiro De Oro

*The new products exhibition was a huge success. Thanks to all who came.*

    The Karakuri Creation Group held its new products exhibition for 2001 in Matsuya Ginza for roughly 2 weeks, beginning the 7th of August. At the hall, customers who had attended the previous years event shared that it was so interesting last year, that they came again this year. So many visitors came to see our exhibits, that they helped to make it such a great success. Thank you so much. At this years event, which included past works, there were more total works than the previous years. From my perspective of preparing, it might be strange for me to say, but I felt it was a fairly good atmosphere. There were more than 10 purely new creations, and more than 5 older versions that were displayed for the first time in Ginza. "It was great!" responded some attendees, but really we couldn't have accomplished it without all of the support from those who visited. There was one customer in particular who had bought one of our products and let us use it as a sample until the end of the exhibition. Then, in the end, as the exhibition was closing, this same customer helped us put everything away. I can't tell you how much we appreciated his gesture.

*Opening Party/Many visitors with interest in puzzles came to our permanent display*

    On August 8th, we had our opening party for the new creations at a jazz club in Ginza. About 60 people joined us. It was such a large party that it became a place of valuable exchanges of conversation. We, the craftsmen, prepared presents made out of wood for all who came. I think everyone enjoyed the party.
    On August 13th, a large number of visitors attended our permanent display of Karakuri works. Actually, at this time, the IPP (International Puzzle Party), held its annual event here in Japan. One project of the IPP was for everyone to visit our permanent display, and we also put together a tour of Hakone, so people could look for Karakruri works, secret boxes and wooden puzzles. Right now we have "temporarily " added works they are different from the Matsuya exhibition, to the permanent display. With so many people from IPP there it was pretty chaotic, but it looked like everyone had a good time. At this display we could also show the foreign IPP members the Karakuri furniture they are idfficult to show due to the size, which everyone seemed to enjoy.


*The small report of Karakuri Creation Groups meeting*

    This summer was much busier than last years. However, After the Creation Group finished the new products display, we had already done the first review of the event. All in all, it was a huge success. On the one hand, if we were to do it again, there would be many points of reflection. At the monthly meeting we decided to work in the technical areas and put more energy into the continued research. Summer was very exciting for us, but at our monthly meeting things seemed to have returned to normal. The Creation Group plans to do its best in making a jump towards even newer and more interesting products.

Thank you

at Tokyu Hands in Osaka

Iwahara
Oishi