Six Panels, 32 Moves
The Karakuri New Secret Box IV is a sequential Japanese puzzle box designed by Akio Kamei.
The cube is built around six similar sliding panels, one on each face. Opening the box requires moving those panels through a precise 32-move sequence until the internal locking mechanism is released and the lid can be removed.
The challenge is not finding a single hidden trick. It is understanding how the six faces interact and working out the correct order of movements.
A More Complex Karakuri Mechanism
Many puzzle boxes reveal progress through a small number of obvious sliding movements.
The New Secret Box IV is more demanding.
Each panel affects what can happen next, so a movement on one face may create or remove possibilities on another. The solver has to keep track of the cube as a whole rather than treating each side independently.
That makes the puzzle feel less like opening a conventional box and more like working through a mechanical sequence built into all six faces.
Designed by Akio Kamei
Akio Kamei is one of the important figures in modern Japanese Karakuri puzzle design, known for expanding the traditional secret-box idea into new forms and mechanisms.
The New Secret Box IV reflects that approach. It keeps the familiar cubic form of a Japanese puzzle box, but uses the entire exterior as part of the mechanism.
The result is a puzzle where the structure of the box and the solving sequence are closely connected.
Crafted from Maple
The box is made from maple, giving it a clean and understated appearance that keeps attention on the geometry of the cube and the movement of the panels.
At approximately 3.2 inches on each side, it has a substantial feel without being oversized. When closed, the six faces appear orderly and balanced, revealing very little about the complexity of the mechanism inside.
An Advanced Puzzle Box
Kubiya rates the New Secret Box IV at 4/5 difficulty.
The 32-move solution makes it significantly more involved than a simple trick-opening box. Progress depends on recognizing which panel can move, understanding what that movement changes, and continuing the sequence without losing track of the mechanism.
No force is required. If a panel does not move, the puzzle is telling you that another step must come first.
For Experienced Puzzle Box Solvers
The New Secret Box IV is especially well suited for:
- Karakuri collectors
- fans of Akio Kamei
- Japanese puzzle box enthusiasts
- experienced secret-box solvers
- sequential mechanical puzzle fans
- wooden puzzle collectors
- adults and teens looking for a longer, more involved challenge
Its 32-move sequence makes it a strong next step for someone who has already explored simpler Japanese puzzle boxes and wants a more demanding mechanism.
