East meets West

Master craftsman Akio Kamei, the founder of the Karakuri Creation Group of Japanese artisans, is famous for his ability to create pieces that tell a story. His work is prized for its novelty, beauty and ingenuity. It’s no wonder that he has been a source of inspiration and admiration for American artist Kagen Sound, whose own work is highly prized for similar reasons. The two met during an international puzzle event in Japan many years ago. From Kagen: I have always been inspired by Akio Kamei's inventiveness and thoughtful design. I visited the IPP in Tokyo in 2004 and met [him]. After that the Karakuri Group sold some of my puzzle boxes in 2005 and 2006, but I always struggled to create enough volume to provide extra copies for them.

This humble comment from Kagen belies the fact that no other outside artist (let alone American) has ever been invited to join the esteemed ranks of the Karakuri Group. The friendship led to an idea that stayed with him for years, and led to one of the most unexpected and delightful collaborations. Again from Kagen: I reached out to Akio Kamei to collaborate last year. I was very nervous he might be too busy, but knew I would regret it if I did not reach out to him someday. He was very gracious to accept and we wrote many emails with drawings until we agreed on a good idea. Because a puzzle collaboration is difficult, it was best for me to create a finished box with a mechanism first with an empty space for him to add his mechanism. The mechanisms were designed to work together. I built the boxes and finished them last winter. I did not yet have a good name for it. I shipped these to Japan and Mr. Kamei then made his mechanism. He also created a clue to help people solve my part of the puzzle. I really love his clue! Clues to solving the mechanisms were not planned in our first emails. After I saw the completed box with his clue I really hoped to give it a name that could suggest a clue to solving his part of the puzzle too.

Kagen found an elegant way to describe Mr. Kamei’s puzzles, comparing them to little poems made of wood. I could say the same for many of Mr. Sound’s works, and this meeting of east and west is like a ballad for the ages. The box itself is flawlessly crafted from Kagen’s favorite signature shimmering walnut, with maple and cherry interiors. Recently Kagen’s pieces have taken on more curves and flowing lines, a break from his precise mathematical forms. He placed a gentle flowing curve all around the center of the box, separating the two halves of the whole. The planned interplay between the two sides is charming and seemless, and has a sequence and interdependence. The artists have managed to create something uniquely whole together which still retains their own individual personalities.

For the toast to this legendary collaboration, I have something metaphorical to offer. The drink comes from the team at Anvil Bar and Refuge, Houston’s original source of cocktail inspiration and one of the best bars in America. It’s a nice parallel to this story, if you understand what makes a nationally award-winning bar attain such status. Of course, the drinks have to be good, but a “best bar” is also a training ground. Anvil’s rigorous program has educated, inspired and launched so many talented creators into the community over the past decade, who have gone on to open their own successful and award-winning programs locally and around the country.

The Great Divide, created by current Anvil team members Kory Nguyen and Zulco Rodriguez for the Spring 2021 menu, is a delicious scotch and amaro cocktail with an irresistible name. In this case the name is exceptionally metaphorical as a toast to these artists from two continents separated across the world, a concept that is literally echoed in the form and function of the box they created. Kory and Zulco were challenged to create a drink with just three ingredients from the backbar, and no infusions or syrups, which could stand up as a modern classic. They wanted to create something whiskey based that was simple, herbal and floral and reminded them of spring. Zulco selected Tomatin whisky, self-proclaimed as the “softer side of the Highlands”. Founded in 1897, the distillery, situated on the Speyside border, was once the largest in all of Scotland. It is currently owned by Takara Shuzo, a Japanese company, making it perhaps a perfect scotch to toast with a Japanese puzzle box. The citrus and spice forward whisky balances well with the other main component of the drink, Braulio amaro, an Italian alpine style bitter that both bartenders liked and wanted in the cocktail. Kory also knew he wanted chocolate, which is a perfect compliment to the mint and citrus flavors. Here’s to joining the best of the world together, across the great divide. Cheers!

The Great Divide by Kory Nguyen and Zulco Rodriguez

2 oz Tomatin 12 Yr

¾ oz Braulio

2 barspoons Tempus Fugit crème de cacao

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Orange peel wrapped cherry garnish

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