kendama ball is very popular in the world.

Kendama is a traditional Japanese toy, played by male and female of all ages. The forerunner of Kendama is a French game called biboquet, later arrived in Japan around 1777 via Silk Road. In early 20th century, the toy has two sides cups and was called nichigatsu ball, which translates to “sun and moon ball”, named so because of the balls’ representation of the sun and the cups’ likeness to the crescent moon.

Now, the Kendama is made up of the “ken” means handle and the “tama” means the ball, which is connected by a string.

This game looks very simple and easy, but it could be very difficult, it requires a lot of practice and creativity, it also strengthens hand eye coordination, balance and reflex.

There are many tricks can be done with this Kendama game such as the following:

Around the Block: Big cup-tower-little cup-spikeAround the World: big cup-little cup-tower-spikeSlip on Spike: crossbar to sliding spikeEarth Spin: spike to flip back on spikeAround Japan: big cup-little cup- spikeAround The Universe: big cup-spike-little cup-spike-tower-spikeAround U.S.A: big cup-spike-Earth spin-little cup-spike-Earth spin-tower-spike-Earth spinBird: balance ball between spike and cupUnder Bird: balance ball between cup and towerLighthouse: balance tower on ballAirplane: swing ken to land spike while holding the ballCooper Spike: Pull up ball to stab down spikeDike on a Rope: Big cup, swing kendama over head while keeping the ball in the cup.Moon Walk to spike: Spin string on hand, grab tower, spikeOver The Valley: Bird, Nightingale

There are hundreds of tricks, one can create new tricks and have fun, that is why this game is not only popular in Japan, but in most parts of the world nowadays.