Japanese Marquetry Boxes are made from intricately designed
inlaid wood (some
M.C. Escher-esque). They are called
Himitsu-Bako in Japanese meaning "Personal Secret Box". These boxes which originated over a century ago in the Hakone Mountain region of Japan are used to hide and secure personal
treasures, as they appear to be just a decorative cube with no lock or apparent opening. The boxes can only be opened by carrying out a series of steps, unique to each box to work a complex
mechanism.
If you are unable to open a Japanese Marquetry Box, taking an ax to it is always an option, though its fine craftsmanship is often enough to just behold.