Love Letter

Valentine’s Day has been a productive holiday theme for Boxes and Booze over the years, inspiring many apropos pairings. There is certainly no shortage of charming puzzle boxes that are overtly or more subtly associated with love, either because they are actually heart-shaped or adorned by a heart somewhere. Many of these offerings have come from the masters of the artform, the craftsmen and women of the Karakuri Creation Group. The group’s founder, Akio Kamei, has made his fair share of heart boxes, but perhaps the most sentimental member is Tatsuo Miyamoto. Other romantics from the group have included Hideaki Kawashima, Hiroyuki Oka, and Yoh Kakuda. I would be remiss, after all this time however, if I neglected to include on that list one of the group’s original members, one of the greatest yosegi puzzle box craftsmen of all time, Yoshiyuki Ninomiya.

Ninomiya-san was born in 1928 in Kanagawa Prefecture, and began his career in woodworking around the age of 16. He was in the direct lineage of apprentices to the great Takajirou Ohkawa, who is credited with inventing the secret box in 1894. Ohkawa had about ten pupils who learned his art, one of whom was Ginosuke Ninomiya, who was Yoshiyuki’s father and direct mentor.

After World War II, Ninomiya began working full time in his family’s woodworking factory. His father was extremely demanding and expected perfection. Perhaps this is one reason why Ninomiya’s boxes are so precise. The hidden sections of his boxes are impossible to see. Later in his career, he met and inspired Akio Kamei, who became fascinated with the secret box, and who eventually went on the create the collaborative Karakuri Creaiton Group which redefined the art of the puzzle box in 1999. Kamei mentions that they considered Ninomiya to be their “Master Craftsman”.

One of Ninomiya’s early works with the Karakuri Group was a lovely box shaped like an envelope – a Love Letter. In 2006, the group held a Valentine themed exhibit at Matsuya Ginza, for which Ninomiya created his letter. He revised the design slightly a few years later, making the envelope simpler in appearance but adding a step to increase the complexity. Don’t be fooled by the plain envelope; as you might expect, the true heart of the matter lies inside – if only you can unlock it.

Ninomiya describes the sentiments evoked by his creation this way, “A love letter for your sweetheart, or perhaps a love letter from someone you deeply admire. Do you remember that nervous feeling when you sent a love letter to your love, or when you received a love letter and your heart beat so fast as you slowly opened it up? Perhaps you are experiencing that situation now.” He certainly sets the stage in dramatic fashion, and teases with a final clue, “When you open this Love Letter your heart will be moved....” Ninomiya’s classic love missive is like a perfect puzzle poem for the holiday.

True Romance cocktail — True Romance by Carey Jenkins

Not surprisingly, there are too many Valentine’s Day cocktail “love potions” in the air for Cupid to pierce with his many arrows. When searching for one to feature, I am naturally drawn to the bittersweet over syrupy sweet. It’s just my palate. True romance needs a touch of desperate hopelessness to make it more poignant. All the best romance stories are sad, after all. This one, named after the Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette action movie from 1993, comes from Carey Jenkins, and is featured in Death & Company’s Welcome Home, 2021. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a mezcal Negroni, which is clearly the best variation on that theme and my own personal favorite type of cocktail.

Jenkin’s cocktail calls for Ancho Reyes, a well known chile liqueur which is featured in so many drinks that I’m always wondering why I haven’t purchased a bottle of it yet. I was determined to make this drink, this time, and did what I often do when I realize I am just not going to buy another bottle of specialty liqueur – I made it myself. There are a few guides out there which deconstruct the process for this particular brand, and it’s extremely easy. Now I have an incredibly delicious bottle of chile liqueur that only cost me a few dollars. I think I’m in love. Cheers!

Ninomiya Love Letter puzzle box and True Romance cocktail — Love is in the pair

True Romance by Carey Jenkins

¾ oz reposado tequila

¾ oz mezcal

½ oz Cynar

½ oz Punt e Mes

½ oz Ancho Reyes Chile liqueur

2 dashes celery bitters

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass over a large cube. Half orange wheel garnish.

explore more:

Matters of the Heart

Love Letter

What’s in a Name?