Description
Hanayama Difficulty Level 3 – Normal
The object of this type of puzzle is to remove the 6 pointed star shape from inside the cage.
This type of mechanical puzzle is usually called the Hedgehog puzzle. It’s history is long and involved, sometimes a bit unclear, but most puzzle enthusiasts associate the puzzle with Czech Republic after it was featured in a boys adventure magazine in 1940. The magazine even gave a very detailed solution to the puzzle. This is despite a patent being lodge in the USA in 1896 for the same sort of puzzle. No physical copy of the puzzle has been found in either of these cases but in more recent times many different copies of this puzzle have been made. We even sell three different ones on this site.
Nob Yoshigahara (1936 – 2004) is Japan’s most acclaimed puzzle inventor, collector and solver.
Nob was introduced to this classic puzzle by his friend Professor Bakalar from Prague when they were both attending the Gathering for Gardner in Atlanta in 1996 and returned it to him almost 6 months later at the International Puzzle Party 16 held in Luxembourg that same year. In those 6 months, Nob enjoyed the puzzle so much he asked Professor Bakalar’s permission to replicate the puzzle for Hanayama to make this sturdy cast version of it. It was first made by Hanayama in 1997 and they’ve been making it ever since.
The key idea with this puzzle is: Cage
As with all Hanayama puzzles, the cast metal makes them very solid and they can withstand a lot of puzzling. Not that this means you should use any force at all to come to the solution. The star will come out of the cage without the use of brute force.
Size: The diameter of the cage is 35mm and the height is 65mm. The puzzle is packaged in the updated Huzzle green box for Level 3 Hanayama puzzles Size of box: 75mm x 115mm x 45mm
Other sellers do not include the printed solution but at Mr Puzzle we understand you want it to complete the records in your collection. But don’t get tempted to give up and look at it too soon or you’ll be disappointed at missing the best Aha! moment.
Michael Texler –
Object of the puzzle seems simple enough, just get the hedgehog out!
No force is required, all smooth moves.
You have the hedgehog with three axes of movement and four holes.
Which axes need twiddling? Which hole?
Helps if you are a furniture removalist or obstetrician.
Relies upon you powers of observation and deduction.
It can be done.
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