Maker · the cabinet's people
Yoh Kakuda
Karakuri box maker · animals, stories & automata · Karakuri Creation Group
Yoh Kakuda (born 1982 in Ibaraki Prefecture) brings the charm of automata to the karakuri box. He studied urushi lacquer at Kanazawa College of Art, graduating in 2004, then completed the Nagano Prefecture Agematsu Woodwork Technical College in 2005 before joining the Karakuri Creation Group in 2006.
Kakuda describes himself as good at 'animals' and 'stories,' and his boxes bear that out — creatures and scenes that come to life through unexpected automated movement woven into the act of opening. In his later work the moving parts stay hidden until the solver finds the right secret, so that the mechanism and the solution reveal themselves together and the box almost seems to open itself.
His stated aim is gentle and human: 'I want to make products which relax you and make you smile,' pieces that settle into the most comfortable corner of daily life.
Style signature
Whimsical animal and story boxes that fuse automaton-style motion with the puzzle's solution, so finding the trick brings the object to life. Warm, character-driven, and designed to make you smile rather than sweat.
Notable works
- Beyond the Mountains
- My Place
- Cheshire Cat
- Pancake House
- Thinking Bat
Questions about Yoh Kakuda
Who is Yoh Kakuda?
Yoh Kakuda (b. 1982, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan) is a puzzle-box craftsman who joined the Hakone-based Karakuri Creation Group in 2006. Trained in urushi lacquer and woodwork, he is known for animal- and story-themed boxes that incorporate automaton-like movement.
What makes Yoh Kakuda's puzzle boxes distinctive?
He blends automaton mechanics with the puzzle's opening, so that solving the box triggers hidden movement that brings an animal or scene to life. His boxes lean toward charm and storytelling rather than sheer difficulty.
What kinds of puzzle boxes does Yoh Kakuda make?
He specializes in animal and narrative boxes — works such as 'Cheshire Cat,' 'Beyond the Mountains' and 'My Place' — designed, in his words, to relax people and make them smile.