Kagamiwari Kaleidoscope

The Kagamiwari Ceremony (Sake Breaking Ceremony) The opening of a mirror----------

Kagamiwari ceremony : the ritual breaking open of a barrel of sake, the Japanese rice wine. The Kagamiwari ceremony is a popular custom, performed at special celebrations in Japan such as the New Year, a wedding, an anniversary or the opening of a new business, in which a cask of Sake is cracked open with a wooden mallet. The wooden mallet that is used in the ceremony is called a tsuchiya. The sake is ladled to wooden masu (cup) and given to the participants who then toast in Japanese saying, KAMPAI!! Literally translated kagamiwari is the opening of a mirror. Kagami.: the breaking of the shiny surface of the sake.(to cut or break mirror)

This Kagamiwari Kaleidoscope was created in honor of the 60th birthday of Yasuyuki Ohara Chairman of Tasus Corporation and President of Tsuchiya Co. Ltd. This Kaleidoscope incorporates many symbols and references to the man, the ceremony, and the company being honored. It was created to showcase the accomplishments and business of this worldwide power. The creation starts out as a sake cask, and along with the 3 tsuchi mallets become 5 different kaleidoscopes.
The Tsuchi (Mallet that breaks the sake cask). Tsuchi is both the name of the parent company of the honored person, as well as the mallet or hammer used in this ceremony. Three different custom made mallets of 7 kinds of different woods in each were produced for this set. To provide a kaleidoscopic theme these tsuchi were constructed to have a kaleidoscope inside the mallet head. Each mallet contains a teleidoscope and different company logos within the design scheme. A teleidoscope is a combination of a kaleidoscope and a telescope that provides a kaleidoscopic view of what ever the teleidoscope is pointed toward. At the ceremony one could look through the Tsuchiya kaleidoscope and see the participants, the ceremony, as well as the company logos inside the scope!

The Sake Cask
The sake cask was created out of Northern red cedar (the Traditional wood used in Japan). Cedar is a smooth and beautifully grained wood with a fragrant aroma. Twenty-eight staves (trapezoid shaped barrel pieces) were used to complete the circular container. Two hemispheres are attached that represent the countries of the world where Tsuchiya has locations. The hemispheres are made of rare and figured koa wood. The landmasses are made of Indiana walnut and are merged with the koa using a woodworking technique called intarsia. Host cities in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, U.S., Canada, and Mexico are highlighted with the "T" logo that has been created of clear and red glass The main kaleidoscope is stored inside sake cask container.

The Main Kaleidoscope
Hidden inside the cask is a kaleidoscope with many surprises created for this occasion. When the top of the cask (made of Indiana Cherry) is lifted and turned over the top serves as a base to display the kaleidoscope. A cherry and oak base supports the kaleidoscope and contains the movement and winding key. The winding key is made in the shape of the Tsuchiya T Logo and several turns motivate the circular object container to produce an ever-changing source of images. The kaleidoscope mirror barrel is made of 11 different burls and woods that are arranged in a unique geometrical yet random pattern. There are 2 different mirror systems contained in this one-of-a-kind-scope. Eyeholes are spaced for viewing one system at a time. A three-mirror 60-degree system gives a reoccurring wallpaper-like image very pleasing to the eye in its symmetry. The other mirror system consists of a novel two mirror, five-point image surrounded by an additional half mirror. This produces a mandella of five points surrounded by an additional ring mandella that is book matched to the center image.

The Object Containers
The five object containers all have different items in them. This variety in objects enhances the images created by the kaleidoscope, and increase relaxation and pleasure of the user.
The five contain:-
Rounded and flame-worked glass and beads
Hammer chased edged glass
Real plastic from the Tsuchiya Company (Tasus)
Company logos and printings
Dichroic and flame-worked glass

The object chambers used in this kaleidoscope are stored in a secret area located in a removable drawer in the back of the display base.

The Display base serves as a surface on which to place the sake barrel, and as a cabinet to store the object chambers and music system. The cabinet is made of very unusual fiddle-back red oak. The wood has been stored in Jerrys workshop for nearly 15 years, in hopes of use in such a fine opportunity such as this cabinet. Examples of fiddle-back red oak have been seen only one other time in Jerrys 30 years of working with wood. In the front of the cabinet a door swings down to reveal a Sony sound system that includes various bands of radio as well as a high quality CD player that includes a remote control.

Viewing the Scope Images
Turn on the all LED (Light Emitting Diode) light. Simple-to-replace batteries will last a long time because of LEDs low power requirements. The switch is off in the middle position and has a low and high setting to adjust to your preference. Five different object containers can provide many different images. Place your choice of 3 into the round revolving object holder disk just below the scope barrel. By rotating the Tsuchiya T on the side of the base, the entire disk will rotate, providing you with a hands free viewing of the constantly changing image. The 3 object cases will be shown in turn with the woods between them. You may also stop the turntable and rotate the object chambers one at a time. Use one hand to hold the turntable and the other hand to rotate the disk. The whole top unit (scope, base, light, barrel, top) may be removed from the top of the sake barrel and used anywhere. The unit may also be set at an angle to aid viewing comfort.