Kendama

The kendama is a traditional Japanese game which itself is based upon the french game 'Bilboquet' meaning 'cup and ball'. Bilboquet was one of the first real toy crazes in the early 1700s (the word bilboquet itself dates back to around the 11th century). Originaly a cup and ball, bilboquet soon evolved into a ball with a hole in it and a spike to catch it on.

Many people may think that kendama was invented in Japan, but this is not actually the case. While many different theories exist, there are records indicating that kendama originated in France in the sixteenth century. There are also theories that this game was developed in Greece or China, and the absolute truth is not known.

As Japan entered the Meiji era (1868-1912), the Ministry of Education introduced kendama in the report on children's education that it put together in 1876, and the game gradually began to catch on among young people. In 1919, during the Taisho era (1912-1926), the forerunner of today's kendama went on sale. It was called Nichigetsu Ball (Sun-and-moon ball), because the ball looked like the sun, while the shape of the shallow carved cups was like a crescent moon. This toy became a huge hit, and from this time into the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989), a variety of different types of kendama appeared, including a ball attached to a kind of paddle.

1. Ken
2. Ball
3. Big cup
4. Small cup
5. Base cup
6. Spike
7. Cross piece
8. Hole
9. String
10. Slip-stop grip
11. Cup edge
12. String hole (ken)
13. String hole (ball)
14. JKA seal
15. Cup rim

Sara Grip or 'Pen Grip' - Grip the body of the kendama with your thumb and index finger the same way you would hold a pen. Your second and third fingers rest on the side cup opposite that which you're going to catch with. The little finger remains free.

Ken Grip or 'Common Grip' - Grip the body of the kendama with your thumb on one side and your fingers on the other.

Tama Grip or 'Ball Grip' - Hold the ball with your thumb, index and middle fingertips. The hole should be pointing upwards.

Rousoku Grip or 'Pin Grip' - Hold the kendama by the spike using the thumb, index and second fingers.

When playing kendama you should stand with your knees slightly bent and your feet about shoulder width apart. Your dominant foot should be placed a little forward of the other. It's important when playing kendama to use your entire body to make the pull up to catch, and because of this a proper stance can really improve your kendama play.