Honda Craft is a Hakone-based studio with deep roots in the Yosegi Zaiku tradition. For generations, the Honda family has assembled intricate mosaic patterns from dozens of native wood species, each chosen for its unique natural colour and grain. No dyes, no paints — only the honest beauty of wood.

The Craft

Yosegi Zaiku begins with the careful selection and preparation of wood strips, which are glued together into bundles called tane-ita. These bundles are then sliced into paper-thin veneers and applied to objects — boxes, trays, coasters — to create the finished mosaic surface. The process requires extraordinary patience and precision.

The Artisan's Story

Honda Craft's workshop is nestled in the forested hills above Hakone, where the raw materials for Yosegi Zaiku have been harvested for centuries. The studio is committed to sustainable sourcing and to training the next generation of Yosegi Zaiku artisans