Love a good brain-teaser? While puzzle toys are a dime a dozen, performer and math lecturer Yosuke Ikeda (@ikeikey) recently blew minds on X with a completely self-designed, gravity-defying mechanism. And yeah, the internet went wild. 
Dubbed "Polyhedron" (多面體, *tamentai* in Japanese), this ingenious puzzle box is a masterclass in wordplay from the get-go. Each face of the cube features a hiragana character: "た" (ta), "め" (me), and "ん" (n) – which, when combined, form the "tamen" part of "tamentai"! It also sports a "RESET" face and two tiny drawers.
But here's the kicker: there are white buttons on the cube, but mashing them does absolutely nothing. So, how *do* you get those drawers open?
The secret? You've got to use those hiragana characters to spell out specific words – and only when you spell out the name of a *noodle dish* will the magic happen!
▼Peep the video below for the full reveal.
Follow the sequence: once "た" (ta), "ん" (n), "め" (me), and "ん" (n) are facing upwards, hit the button, and *voila!* The right drawer springs open, revealing a "Tanmen" (湯麵) card inside.
To crack open the left drawer, you'll need to first flip the box to the "RESET" face. Then, arrange the characters in a new order: "た" (ta), "ん" (n), "た" (ta), "ん" (n), "め" (me), and "ん" (n). Press the button again, and this time, a "Tantanmen" (擔擔麵) card pops out!
Yep, this isn't some high-tech gadget; it's a purely gravity-powered, brain-bending puzzle toy.
Curious about what makes it tick?
Ikeda-sensei even shared a transparent version, giving us a peek inside. You can see the intricate network of parts, all centered around one tiny silver steel ball.
When the box is tilted and turned in just the right sequence, that little steel ball navigates an internal maze, eventually dropping into a specific slot. This triggers the button and latch mechanism, unlocking the drawer. Mess up the order, and the ball stays put, keeping the secret safe.
While seasoned puzzle enthusiasts might guess at the underlying principle, designing such a complex, purely mechanical contraption from scratch is seriously impressive. Netizens were particularly blown away that there wasn't a single electronic component in sight – just pure, unadulterated mechanical genius.
And get this: "Polyhedron" is just *one* of Yosuke Ikeda's many mind-bending mechanical creations. He's got a whole treasure trove of ingenious devices shared on his X account, so if you're into this kind of mechanical wizardry, you absolutely need to give him a follow there.