Yosegi

Yosegi-zaiku (寄木細工) (lit., "parquet work") is a type of traditional Japanese marquetry developed in the town of Hakone during the Edo period.

[1][2] Resembling a type of mosaic, yosegi is created through the combination of fine oblong rods of wood chosen for their grain, texture and colour, making an intricate surface pattern which is then sliced into thin layers.

It is commonly found on traditional Japanese puzzle boxes and similar decorative items.

[2] The rods are glued together to form large sections of the desired geometric pattern, often called a seed plate, before being sliced into thin layers (in the zuku technique), which are then glued onto boxes and other handicraft works.

Alternatively, the entire plate can be carved out (in the muku technique) to create a single piece.