Hakone-yosegi-zaiku

Geometric wood marquetry from Hakone using naturally colored woods.

Hakone-yosegi-zaiku is a woodworking craft from the Hakone region of Kanagawa Prefecture, renowned for its intricate geometric mosaic patterns created by assembling different species of naturally colored wood. Developed in the early 19th century, artisans glue together thin strips of woods with varying natural hues — such as walnut, cherry, zelkova, and spindle tree — into pattern blocks, which are then shaved into paper-thin sheets and applied to boxes, trays, and the famous himitsu-bako (puzzle boxes).