A sport widespread throughout Japan that anybody can easily play anywhere

Mr. MATSUMOTO Norio,
a secretary-general of the Japan Kendama Association

Everyone, do you know Kendama, the cup and ball game? As you will see in the picture, Kendama involves playing with and catching a wooden ball in a 'saucer.' Now it is attracting attention as a sport. Japanese elementary schools adopted it as part of their general education and introduced Kendama as well as Origami (the art of paper folding) and Otedama (playing with beanbags) into lessons. That trend expanded to junior and senior high schools.

An NPO called the Japan Kendama Association (President: KANEI Yoshio) consisting of Kendama enthusiasts, holds annual Kendama competitions. This year in May, the all Japan Kendama Competition was held at Harumi, Tokyo, in which the 30 high-ranking players came together from all over Japan to participate.

It is believed that the number of Kendama enthusiasts is approximately 3 million and that 400,000 Kendama sets are sold each year. "The popularity of the game is spreading widely as a healthy 'culture' and a lifetime sport for the reasons that large spaces are not necessary to play it, you can stretch your entire body, it costs nothing and everybody from children to elderly people can play. It is fantastic that players can compete and test their skills. The male to female ratio is 7:3," explains MATSUMOTO Norio, a secretary-general of the Association.

At the competition, HIROSE Yuka was the center of the attention, and is now an up-and-coming Kendama idol. "I like playing Kendama and I once won a victory at an elementary school competition. I feel so happy when my technique works well. I practice for one hour every day" said Miss Hirose who is one of the many to get caught up in the fun.

Kendama is thought to have originated in Japan, however similar games are played in other countries. It is said that modern Kendama was brought in 1777 to Japan from Europe where it was played as a "cup and ball" game. It became very popular during the Taishou era (1912~1926). In 1975, Mr. SUGAWARA Issei, a writer of children's stories established the Japan Kendama Association and Kendama evolved into a modern sport. Japan is thought to be the country where Kendama is most actively practiced.

People think highly of Kendama from an educational point of view and as a sport, at the same time drawing attention from the aspect of international exchange. One of the people involved in this is Mr. YANO Hiroyuki, an association manager of the Kansai district who is very keen on using Kendama to promote international exchange and is eager to spread it around the world. This spring, he visited Mozambique and instructed people on how to play the game. He is even inviting one of the students there to Japan. In addition, in July, his organization will host an international competition in Osaka.

Mr. Yano is also contributing to public welfare. "Even in Japan last year I taught Kendama 104 times, visiting everywhere from kindergartens to homes for elderly people. I was very moved to see a l00-year-old woman in a wheel chair delighted to say 'I made it!'" The competition hall echoed with the sounds of wooden balls of Kendama games, which are a very pleasant sound that 'heals the hearts' of the people there.

Japan Kendama Association
http://www.kendamakyokai.com

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