Fun two-player games recommended that you can play using conversation only

[Children’s song] Nabé-Nabé Sokonuke

Nursery Rhyme / Nabe-Nabe Sokonuke (published in the May 2013 issue of Monthly Ku:yon)

It’s an activity where two people hold hands to form a circle and see if they can move in sync with the song.

The song seems to be themed around a pot with a hole in the bottom, and when the phrase “kaeshimasho” (“let’s flip/turn it over”) comes up, you move your joined hands and switch to a back-to-back position.

The direction you turn is crucial, and coordinating here is key to keeping things smooth.

While enjoying the song, let’s aim to move together in a fun, coordinated way.

It’s the kind of game that also reveals your dynamic as a pair—like who tends to take the lead.

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kappamaki

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Ten thousand feet in the Alps

[Hand game] How to do “Alps 10,000 Shaku to 40,000 Shaku” + Flower Meadow version

It’s an activity where two people face each other and sing “Alps Ichiman-jaku” while communicating through hand movements.

In addition to moving your own hands, there are motions where you clap hands with your partner, so make sure to learn the sequence thoroughly and synchronize your timing.

Beyond the standard pattern, many variations have been passed down, so besides learning this one, you can also enjoy creating your own original choreography.

Adjusting the difficulty—by adding more complex variations or speeding it up—could make it even more exciting.

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kappamaki

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Gesture Game

I tried the Animal Gesture Game!!

Let’s play a gesture game that’s fun for small or large groups.

It’s perfect for school or at home when you want a quick game—no props, no prep, just start whenever you like.

The rules are simple: it’s an easy guessing game, so you can jump right in anytime.

You try to guess what the other person is acting out, and you’ll likely burst into laughter at the funny moves from the person giving the prompts.

It should also be great for passing the time during long waits outdoors.

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nikki

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The Falling-Falling Game

[Nursery/Kindergarten] The “It Fell, It Fell” Game [How to Play, Target Age, Variations]

Let me introduce the “Ochita Ochita” game, where you quickly judge and strike poses using your hands and feet.

The leader says, “Ochita ochita” (“Something fell!”).

The participants ask, “What fell?” The leader tells the participants what fell.

If the leader is late in responding to the instructed movement or makes a mistake, they lose at that point.

It’s a game that lets you enjoy the connection between words and movement.

You’ll enjoy it even more if you confirm the pose actions beforehand so everyone has a shared understanding.

Adding different movement patterns is also recommended!

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mayumi

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playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s move (i.e., acting with hindsight/cheating)

After-the-fact Rock-Paper-Scissors Challenge! #shorts

“After-the-fact Rock-Paper-Scissors” is a great brain teaser.

First, have someone tell you whether you should win or lose, then when you play, throw your hand after them according to that instruction.

If they say “win,” throw the winning hand; if they say “lose,” throw the losing hand.

You can keep throwing only winning or only losing hands the whole time, or you can get a win/lose instruction right before each round and follow it—that’s recommended too.

Increasing the speed of the rounds or keeping a steady rhythm makes it more challenging and even more exciting!

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SAKI

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Can you do things like this and that?

[A Must-See for Moms, Dads, and Childcare Students!] Easy Hand Play (Can You Do This and That? Toddler Version)

Here’s a game you can enjoy with just two people: “Can you do this and that?” In this game, when someone says, “Can you do this and that?”, the participants imitate what was said while simply replying, “Yes, we can do this and that.” The person giving the prompts should start with simple, easy-to-understand actions.

The key is to make them gradually more difficult.

It’s a game that people of all ages—from children to adults—can enjoy, so try taking turns giving prompts and challenge the game with your friends or family!

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mayumi

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Arithmetic game with both hands

The Gaki no Tsukai two-hand math game was way too hard lol

It’s a game where even simple arithmetic suddenly feels difficult when you have to form numbers with your fingers at the same time.

Start with small addition problems that can be counted on one hand: as two numbers are presented, you make each number with your hands and say the answer out loud.

Coordinating hand movements while speaking is surprisingly hard and really tests your ability to focus on doing both at once.

Once you’re comfortable with addition, try subtraction and multiplication to make the answers more complex and give your brain an extra workout.

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kappamaki

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