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 puzzle manufacturers

Yanoman

On this page: Box contents - Yanoman website - Identifying Yanoman puzzles - Special orders

Yanoman was the first company to start making puzzles in Japan - in 1973. They have a wide range, and have explored many different forms of puzzle, such as the new spherical ones. For a few more historical details, see the manufacturers page.

If you have a piece missing from a Yanoman puzzle, we may be able to help.

Box contents

In days gone by you opened a jigsaw puzzle box, and inside were just the pieces! But Japanese puzzles come with various extra bits and pieces. The assumption is that you will only do the puzzle once, then glue it together for wall mounting, to impress your friends.

1 Most important - the pieces

2 Mini-poster (about A4/US letter size - only in some puzzles)

3 Postcard: instructions, and how to get a replacement for a missing piece. (Details on request)

4 "Service" coupon: collect enough of them, and you get a free puzzle. (More details on request)

5 "Jigsaw puzzle paste" (principal ingredient polyvinyl alcohol - PVA). Really speaking this is not paste, but a clear glue.

6 Mystery object

Doing the puzzle

Ignore the strict instructions to do the edge pieces first: put the bits together in any order you like. If you want to display the puzzle, you can use the glue to stick it together. Spread a sheet of clean but unwanted paper under the completed puzzle, with the puzzle the right way up. (Some people say it's best to do this on a sheet of glass, which the puzzle won't stick to.) Then pour the glue over the front of the puzzle: spread it out carefully with the mystery object, so all the joints get neatly filled with glue. It should dry with a nice glossy finish. It is a good idea to practice on a small puzzle before you try this on a really large one.

Disclaimer: I have very limited experience of gluing puzzles - I usually break them up to do again some day. But I have had some success with trompe l'oeil murals!

Please note: Actual box contents may vary - if you find any discrepancies, please let us know.

Website

Yanoman website: https://www.yanoman.co.jp

The Yanoman site lists puzzles by piece count, by puzzle type, and by genre or character. The small numbers in parenthesis show the approximate number of puzzles in each category. (These may be missing or out of date.)

Jigsaw puzzles

Number of pieces: Under 100 (137) - 100-199 (71) - 200-499 (116) - 500-999 (78) - 1000 and above (125)

Puzzles by dimensions: 10x14.7 cm (82) - 16.5x21.5 cm (32) - 25x25 cm (16) - 26x38 cm (105) - 38x53 cm (60) - 50x75 cm (110)

Piece size: Compact pieces (23) - Large pieces (31) - Small pieces (200)

Topics: Scenic (103) - Kagaya Yutaka (28) - Christian Riese Lassen (17) - Disney Studios (127) - Wachifield (29) - Moomins (41) - Detective Conan (7) - Minions (29) - Evangelion (22) - Touken Ranbu (25) - Japanese art (10) - Artwork (68) - Maze detective Pierre (11) - Norman Rockwell (4) - Rika Oshima (3) - Momoko Murata (1) - Floral (10) - Pets (7)

Special puzzles: Space puzzles (4) (Blank puzzles for astronaut training) - Jigsaw puzzle silhouettes (10) - Lampshade puzzles (36) - Canvas finish (8) - Square puzzles (16) - Prism art (83) - Translucent minipuzzle with easel (41) - Mini-easel puzzles (1) - 3D puzzles (14)

Characters: Disney Studios (140) - Twisted Wonderland (21) - Kingdom Hearts (3) - Moomins (44) - Wachifield (29) - Minions (32) - Touken Ranbu (34) - Detective Conan (8) - Evangelion (22) - Moriarty the Patriot (2) - Burn the witch (1)

(Updated December 2024)

Identifying Yanoman puzzles

Yanoman codes generally have two digits for the number of pieces, plus a puzzle code: 05- for 500 pieces, 10- for 1000 pieces, etc. Imaginatorium Shop codes simply omit the hyphen.