The story about the rings in the Opening Ceremony

11. August 2021

image from news.com.au DYLAN MARTINEZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Did you see the performance piece in the first part of the Olympics Opening Ceremony when the dancers fashioned the Olympic rings in their workshop?

Then 5 large wooden rings were wheeled out and hoisted up on display.

There is quite a special story behind the making of these rings. The wood came from trees grown from seeds given by athletes at the first Olympic Games in Tokyo. The 160 pine and spruce trees were then harvested and made into the rings using the Yosegi-Zaiku techniques.

For your reference, the same technique of mosaic wood work is applied in the Cohana pencil sharpener and pins we have featured below.

This parquet technique, Yosegi-zaiku is created by the master craftsman at Yosegi Koubou Ag. It's a form of parquetry which uses different hardwoods and their contrasting shades to create patterns.

It's the story behind the piece which says everything about Japanese craftsmanship.

This parquet technique, Yosegi-zaiku is used to make these products from Cohana.