Yosegi
Yosegi (or yosegi-zaiku) is a type of traditional Japanese mosaic woodwork which originated in the late Edo Period. Yosegi veneers are commonly found on the outside of Japanese secret boxes (Himitsu-Bako), but can also be used to decorate many other items such as trays, chests, and more recently, mouse mats.
The region of Hakone in Japan is renowned for its yosegi-zaiku and himitsu-bako, which were designated a National Traditional Handicraft by the International Trade & Industry Minister of Japan in May 1984.
The mosaic is created by rods of different woods glued together, and cut perpendicularly into fine slices. The surface is lacquered. Differences in texture and colour are obtained by the choice of different species and qualities of wood:
White: Spindle tree or ilex macropoda
Black: aged Katsura tree
Yellow: Picrasma quassioides, mulberry or sumac
Brown: Camphor tree, maackia
Purple: American walnut tree
Blue: Japanese cucumber tree
Red: Chinese cedar
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