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- IPP 42 Tokyo — (1) (Current post)
- IPP 42 Tokyo — (2)
I was invited to IPP (International Puzzle Party) 42 in Tokyo last September (September 26-28). I was so excited because it was my first IPP!
There were three new invitees from Korea: Eugene Yu, Marco Jung, and me (Dongkyu Han). We’re all members of KPP (Korean Puzzle Party), and Iwahiro kindly invited us. Jinhoo Ahn, who has been an IPP member for years, was there as well.
Before the event, Eugene and I took a short trip around the area. We visited Tokyo Skytree, Sensoji, and Akihabara. I also bought some puzzles at the puzzle shop Torito.
Day 1 — Founder’s Reception
On the first day, IPP opened with the Founder’s Reception.
Jerry Slocum, who founded IPP in 1978, welcomed the new invitees. One by one, we briefly introduced ourselves and shook his hand. When I shook hands with Jerry Slocum, now in his nineties, I felt that I had finally become a part of this long-standing culture.
Then, as soon as I stepped down, several people rushed over and handed me their welcome gift puzzles! My hands were already full of puzzles, and the event had only just begun. Never expected such an enthusiastic reception!
I also had a chance to meet well-known puzzlers including Vesa Timonen, Frederic Boucher, Nick Baxter, Koichi Miura, Edi Nagata, and Mineyuki Uyematsu (MINE) for the first time. I wandered around and got some desginers’ autographs on the puzzles I own.
When I introduced myself to MINE, I was surprised that he recognized my name. He mentioned that he liked my Canal puzzle, which Iwahiro had shown him earlier. I was happy to hear that and decided to give him a copy of the Canal as a gift.
In return, he handed me one of the Dualock puzzles that the late Nob Yoshigahara had left to him. Nob Yoshigahara is a legendary figure in the puzzle world, so much so that there’s even an award named after him. Dualock is one of his earliest works, and probably one of the most influential puzzles ever made. Receiving such a puzzle was a great honor, and it inspired me to keep creating puzzles and contributing to the puzzle world.
Day 2 — Puzzle Exchange, Design Competition
The second day began with the Puzzle Exchange.
Since it was my first time attending, I wasn’t eligible for the exchange. You have to serve as an assistant in order to join the exchange from the following year on. The idea is that, you first work as an assistant so you can learn how the Puzzle Exchange works. Luckily, all three of us new Korean invitees were able to apply as assistants.
I was an assistant for Stephen Chin. He is a woodworker and brought special tippe tops he crafted as his exchange puzzle. I carried a bag full of his puzzles and checked off the exchangers list. He treated everyone like family, joking around and telling me stories. I got to meet a lot of puzzlers thanks to him.
At one point, he told me that the pen I was using to mark the list was actually a puzzle box he made. He said that if you solve the puzzle, you can find a hidden diamond. It looked just like an ordinary ballpoint pen, so I didn’t suspect a thing. What a surprise!
Every exchanger had to donate one copy of their exchange puzzle to the Jerry Slocum Puzzle Collection at the Lilly Library. I really loved that the Puzzle Exchange wasn't just a one-time event, but part of a tradition to preserve and continue the history of puzzles.
After the exchange, I spent some time in the Design Competition room, which was open throughout the event. Among the entries, Chained Frames left the strongest impression on me. Despite its plain appearance, it is solved through a series of beautiful movements. I couldn’t help but strongly recommend it to Takeshi Onishi from Hanayama. Maybe one day Hanayama will release it as a Cast Puzzle?
Other memorable puzzles included Diagonal Twins, Rombox, Fudge, Tetromino Island, Toaster, Star Puzzle, … and so on. (not in any particular order)
In the evening, there was a banquet with a magic show and an announcement about next year's IPP. During the show, there was a magic involving a Rubik’s Cube. When the magician asked if anyone in the audience could solve a cube, Eugene volunteered and solved it.
And that was the end of Day 2.
- Read part 2: IPP 42 Tokyo — (2)