Update!
(15 August) The database should now be fixed, so there are no more stray funny characters... but there may still be glitches. I just discovered that all of the Peanuts puzzles had disappeared, because "artist=peanuts" was not matching "Peanuts"; so there is more to do in sorting out case-insensitive matching.
Database problem!
Apologies! A recent database upgrade has left lots of Japanese text corrupted, and also some variant characters, such as the e-acute in "Pokémon," not showing correctly. I am working to correct this but may take some days...
申し訳ありません 現在、データーベースの問題でほとんどのパズルの詳細などの日本語が文字化けになっています。修復するまで何日かかかるかも知れません。ご了承ください。
Jigsaw puzzles from Japan
Tiny pieces
On this page: Tenyo 1000 pieces - Beverly 1000 pieces - Apollo/Epoch 1053 pieces - Yanoman "Petit" series
From around 2006, the Japanese puzzle manufacturers were engaged in a battle for the "smallest". Starting with puzzles of one-and-a-half to two times as many pieces in the standard dimensions, these were merely small (and Japanese puzzles are typically 10% or so larger in area than European or North American puzzles of the same piece count). Then Tenyo produced a "World Smallest 1000-piece" series*, earning a place at Guinness World Records, shortly to be overtaken by Beverly, with 1000-piece puzzles at 300-piece size, and finally Apollo brand puzzles (from Epoch) with 1053 pieces. These tiny pieces are not for the faint of heart, and you will need patience, delicate fingers, and very good eyesight!
* A3 size: two sheets of A4, or very roughly two sheets of "Letter" size if you're in the US.
Meanwhile, Yanoman led the way in postcard-size puzzles, with its "Petit" series...
Tenyo Disney puzzles - 1000 tiny pieces
 © Disney 1000: Disney character worldMickey and friends in the central circle are surrounded by all the Disney characters through the ages...
 In stockA Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 420 x 297 mm (17" x 12") Code: TDW10260 (DW-1000-260 on package) Retail price ¥2400 (approx. US$16.22 €15.00 £12.57) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Disney 1000: Mickey's Magic Shop
In stockA Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 420 x 297 mm (17" x 12") Code: TDW10259 (DW-1000-259 on package) Retail price ¥2400 (approx. US$16.22 €15.00 £12.57) All about ordering (please read first)
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© Disney 1000: Twilight toyshop
In stockA Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 420 x 297 mm (17" x 12") Code: TDW10406 (DW-1000-406 on package) Retail price ¥2400 (approx. US$16.22 €15.00 £12.57) All about ordering (please read first)
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© Disney 1000: Minnie's flower shop
In stockA Tenyo puzzle: 1000 pieces; 420 x 297 mm (17" x 12") Code: TDW10393 (DW-1000-393 on package) Retail price ¥2400 (approx. US$16.22 €15.00 £12.57) All about ordering (please read first)
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This puzzle has TINY pieces!Beverly 1000 tiny pieces
 1000: White tortureEvery piece of this puzzle is plain white. Not for the faint of heart!
In stockA Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: BM71847 (M71-847 on package) Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.16 €11.25 £9.42) All about ordering (please read first)
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 1000: Black tortureEvery piece of this puzzle is plain black. Not for the faint of heart!
In stockA Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: BM71848 (M71-848 on package) Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.16 €11.25 £9.42) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Maki Mizuno 1000: Good luck lavender
In stockA Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: BM61704 (M61-704 on package) Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.16 €11.25 £9.42) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Beverly 1000: Kannon mandalaThe Kannon of the title appears right in the centre of this extremely intricate mandala, in her many-armed form. 
In stockA Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15") Code: BM81557 (M81-557 on package) Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$14.86 €13.75 £11.52) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Beverly Enterprises 1000: Shakyamuni Buddha mandalaA classic mandala, with literally hundreds of little figures, both inside and outside the circular inner realm. Shakyamuni Buddha is another name for the Buddha, literally "The Awakened One of the Shakya Clan."
In stockA Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15") Code: BM81556 (M81-556 on package) Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$14.86 €13.75 £11.52) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Kazuha Fukami 1000: Aqua angelAn enigmatic figure in the foetal position seems to float inside a water-filled cathedral...
In stockA Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15") Code: BM81529 (M81-529 on package) Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$14.86 €13.75 £11.52) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Beverly 
1000: KinkakujiPerhaps the most famous of Kyoto's temples, this is the "Gold pavilion." It was originally built in the 1300s, and given to the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397, but was destroyed in an arson attack in 1950. Rebuilt in 1955, the gold leaf covering was only completely restored in 1987. Actually, "Gold pavilion" is only a nickname, and the formal temple name is Rokuonji. What does the name mean?
In stockA Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: BM81835 (M81-835 on package) Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$13.51 €12.50 £10.47) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Thomas Kincade studios 1000: Venetian café
In stockA Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: BM81570 (M81-570 on package) Retail price ¥2200 (approx. US$14.86 €13.75 £11.52) All about ordering (please read first)
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Apollo (now Epoch brand) - 1053 tiny pieces
 © Peanuts Worldwide LLC 1053: Snoopy comes to JapanSnoopy enjoys coloured dango, sweet sticky riceballs, while riding a rickshaw. This looks rather like Kyoto, except that Mount Fuji can be seen towering in the distance...
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E31512 (31-512 on package) Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$13.51 €12.50 £10.47) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Peanuts Worldwide LLC 1053: Snoopy's space travel
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E31513 (31-513 on package) Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$13.51 €12.50 £10.47) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Peanuts Worldwide LLC 1053: Peanuts market vanThe friends are all gathered in this jolly scene by the sea...
 Not availableDiscontinued July 2024 An Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E31515 (31-515 on package) Retail price ¥2000 |
 © Mucha Trust 1053: Times of the day"Awakening of the morn, Brightness of the day, Dream of the evening, Rest of the night" — four panels represent the times of the day with female figures draped in the unmistakable flowing Mucha style.
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E31005 (31-005 on package) Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$10.81 €10.00 £8.38) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Peanuts Worldwide LLC 1053: Snoopy's school bus ride
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E31517 (31-517 on package) Retail price ¥2000 (approx. US$13.51 €12.50 £10.47) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Epoch 1053: Traditional umbrellasA puzzler's puzzle! These are traditional waxed paper umbrellas, of slightly varying shades of red...
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E79024 (79-024 on package) Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.16 €11.25 £9.42) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Amanaimages 
1053: Tropical holiday spotAn idyllic vacation bungalow — in the Maldive islands...
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E31004 (31-004 on package) Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$10.81 €10.00 £8.38) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Epoch 
1053: Himeji castleFamous as the best-preserved example of Japanese castle building, the historical origins of Himeji castle are said to date back to the building of a fort in 1333. From a supposed resemblance to the outstretched wings of a bird, it is also known as "White Heron Castle."
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E31001 (31-001 on package) Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$10.81 €10.00 £8.38) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © M. C. Escher 1053: BelvedereA lithograph from 1958 portrays in Escher's impeccable style an impossible building... no real rectangular building could have a ladder with its foot inside the walls at the bottom leaning against the outside at the top! This type of "impossible object" drawing uses perspective rules tbat are always correct over a small enough area (as in the detail image), yet break down when seen as a whole.
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 260 x 380 mm (10" x 15") Code: E31301 (31-301 on package) Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.16 €11.25 £9.42) All about ordering (please read first)
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 © Epoch 
1053: Shirakawa blossom timeSpringtime: country cottages in the traditional style of the Japan Alps, in the famous preserved village of Shirakawa-go.
In stockAn Epoch puzzle: 1053 pieces; 380 x 260 mm (15" x 10") Code: E31031 (31-031 on package) Retail price ¥1600 (approx. US$10.81 €10.00 £8.38) All about ordering (please read first)
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Yanoman "Petit" series
These were originally postcard size, with 204 micro-sized pieces. The series now includes versions with slightly larger pieces (still "small"), and double-postcard size, all Disney designs.
