At a glance, they look like stacks of colored paper, but they’re actually blocks of wood. The colorful patterns are created by using different grains and types of wood, and is called Japanese Yosegi.
Yosegi is the traditional Japanese art of parquetry. The rods of wood create mosaic effects and are used to create beautiful boxes, flooring and furniture. Dating back to Japan’s Edo Period (between the 17th to the 19th century) the art form is well respected worldwide.
To create these colorful pieces, the wood is cut into rods and glued together to form a geometric design. After forming a pattern, they are arranged and glued vertically, becoming a long rectangular block. The surface is then cut into thin sheets, which is used for decoration on boxes and other furniture.
Incredible, isn’t it?
You can check out the whole process in this second video posted by Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square.