Yoshio Tsuyuki is a craftsman in Hakone wood mosaic work. He was designated as a Traditional Craftsman by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1985. He has been awarded a lot of prizes in the Japanese Traditional Craft Competition and the exhibition of Japanese Traditional Craftsmen Association.
Hakone wood mosaic work began at Hatajuku Village in the mountains of Hakone in the late Edo period. The rich variety of timbers and the natural color of each wood are fully utilized to create geometric patterns of the mosaic work. Each piece of wood taken from the same timber has different color and texture, and each product of the same pattern has its own taste according to the way the pieces are combined. The “Himitsu-bako (the secret box)” that has shikake (device or trick) inside is a very popular souvenir.
With numerous colors and textures, the works created by Mr. Tsuyuki never bear the same pattern.