Hanayama Cast Puzzles - Hanayama Star

Having bought and adored the various small-box Karakuri Creation Group wooden puzzles, I thought I would try some of these Hanayama metal puzzles.I am not a metal puzzle fan, since wood seems more beautiful and calm to me. Metal puzzles make my hands cramp in frustration sometimes.Puzzles like the "Vortex" are simply too hard, and are sitting around the house in an unsolved state. But this "Cast Star" is unusual: both simple, and hard, and easy.The star fell apart in my children's hands after only a few minutes of play. I asked them how they solved it and they just shrugged.Frankly, I spent hours with it on the train. When it finally came apart, it was like a dream. You can convince yourself that it is impossible. Perhaps it is a Zen thing: adult minds are too programmed to think in certain ways, which this puzzle resists.I bought another one to give away, and it sits in my office, tantalising some very smart people.I recommend it.

My son was desperate to get this toy and it was easy enough to crack, and he did it (as a nine year old) within ten minutes. The hardest thing for us was to put it back together again. After a couple of successful executions, it was a little boring for my son, and to be honest he has only used it half a dozen times. The toy is in his bedroom in two separate pieces - if he doesn't use it any time soon I guess I could use the star as a door-stop!

Great puzzle, though perhaps more difficult for someone not experienced with Hanayama puzzles and all their potential pitfalls etc? It was fairly easy for me to solve, but from experince (with Hanayama puzzles) I knew exactly what kind of characteristic to look for.It's high quality and visually stunning, like most Hanyama puzzles.

Well made and requires some fiddling to take apart and put back together. Takes a lot more fiddling to realize how you actually did it.

An instant hit with children and adults alike. Very well made. And so satisfying when solved. Need to get another one as one of my guests took mine away!

Amazing puzzle and so well made