Brand new, unopened Yamanaka Kumikiworks wooden 3D puzzle, discontinued

Yamanaka Kumiki Kobo: Kiyomizu Kumiki [Nao Yamanaka]

This is the Kiyomizu Kumiki, one of the kumiki puzzles devised by Nao Yamanaka, the fourth-generation head of the Yamanaka Kumiki Kobo.
It is a powerful work reminiscent of the Kiyomizu stage, with 54 wooden pieces intersecting at right angles in multiple layers.
The name "Kiyomizu" comes from an anecdote that the Finnish designer Kaj Franck named it after seeing its shape when he visited Japan.
It is a design that can be enjoyed as an object, utilizing the wooden structure used in shrine architecture.
It is a valuable work with a small production run.

Yamanaka Kumiki
Kumiki puzzles from the Yamanaka Kumiki Kobo, which were made as traditional Hakone crafts until recent years.
Production was mostly for export to the United States before and after the war, but it was discovered by Bruno Munari, Taro Okamoto, and Sori Yanagi, and came to be highly regarded both domestically and internationally as a traditional Japanese craft.
Currently, the production of kumiki puzzles has ended, making them difficult to obtain.

Yamanaka Kumiki Kobo
The history began with the first-generation carpenter, Tsunejiro Yamanaka (1874-1954), who expressed everyday objects using kumiki.
The second-generation, Waichi Yamanaka (1902-1943), created kumiki based on daily topics such as historical buildings and sports competitions.
The third-generation, Hirokichi Yamanaka (1905-1980), devised kumiki with various animal motifs, including the famous elephant that won the Good Design Award.
And the fourth-generation, Nao Yamanaka (1936-), changed the focus from the previous generations and poured his passion into creating new kumiki that showcased the structural aspects of abstract kumiki. His devised works attracted attention in the fields of engineering and design, and widely made the existence of kumiki known both domestically and internationally.

Product Details
・Designer: Nao Yamanaka
・Manufacturer: Yamanaka Kumiki Kobo
・Size: Approximately 10.5cm

Please note that there may be some age-related deterioration as it is an old item.

Thank you for viewing.