It is a great delight for me to accept this special award, "Grand Prize". Here I express my devout thanks to Jerry Slocum and the committee of this award, especially to Nick, and all of the puzzle party staff. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the skilful team of Hanayama's fellows. And, I greatly appreciate the manifold activities of Nob Yoshigahara. He had invited us into such a wonderful party. We cannot forget him, of course.

During the party days, many puzzle designers asked to me; "How did you design such organic shape? " It is a good question, although it's hard to answer.

At the beginning of designing "Radix", sketching plants' shape, especially the growth of roots, gave me some inspirations. And, when I designed "Baroq", the previous item of "Radix", I started the design work not from its static shape, but from 'natural' motions of its component. For example, one of the design processes was sketching a cup of coffee and milk mixed together.

Now, this forming strategy is still tentative. I will try to design puzzles not only its figure, but also its forming processes. And, I hope myself to contribute to the progress in puzzle world, by designing and describing "what it is" and "how it is designed".

Thank you all ladies and gentlemen.
Happy puzzling!

2nd. August 2005

Akio Yamamoto

English page is not available but here.

Japanese page is available.