Let's make a DIY Fukuwarai! Simple ideas for fun with kids
Fukuwarai is one of the classic games that gets everyone excited with family and friends during the New Year.
But when you actually try to make one, you might find yourself wondering, “What should I use as the theme?” or “Isn’t there a more fun idea?” In fact, fukuwarai isn’t limited to traditional Okame and Hyottoko faces—you can handcraft it with free ideas like popular characters, Santa Claus, or even family photos! In this article, we’ll introduce unique, crowd-pleasing DIY fukuwarai ideas you can enjoy not only during the New Year, but in any season.
They’re all easy to make, so give them a try!
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Let's Make a DIY Fukuwarai! Simple Ideas to Play with Kids (21–30)
Daruma doll fukuwarai
As a handmade activity that lets you enjoy the charm of the “Daruma-san” picture book series just as it is, this is full of appeal.
Even small children can have a New Year’s experience, and you can also expect educational benefits that nurture cognitive skills and creativity.
In the process of freely combining the parts, kids will be thrilled, saying, “Look at this funny face!” Plus, laminating the pieces makes them more durable, so you can play with them repeatedly for a long time—another nice perk.
It’s a fukuwarai game perfect for warm family time at home, where everyone can laugh and enjoy together.
Crayon Shin-chan Fukuwarai
@cyuarman06 One-take only ⚠️ No staging/faking
“Try It” – WANIMA
A lively at-home activity where you can enjoy Shin-chan’s signature expressions just as they are.
Simply rearrange parts like the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth, and you’ll keep creating hilarious versions of Shin-chan that never appeared in the original—sure to make both kids and adults burst out laughing.
Because the character’s features are so distinct, even small children can play easily, and the whole family can have a blast together.
If you add more handmade parts, the variations expand, and customizing expressions—like recreating scenes from the anime—is another fun highlight.
SpongeBob Fukuwarai
It’s also appealing as a new New Year’s game that uses popular characters.
A great point is that it’s easy to make with familiar materials like construction paper and self-laminating sheets from 100-yen shops.
You can finish it just by copying and cutting out the parts, so even people who aren’t good at crafts can relax.
Plus, it introduces decoration ideas using glitter heels, making it fun to customize together with children.
It’s a perfect fukuwarai for at-home New Year’s fun that will liven things up with family and friends.
Fukuwarai with circles, triangles, and squares
It’s a highly recommended handmade game that anyone can enjoy casually using simple shapes.
Since the facial parts are made with circles, triangles, and squares, you don’t need to be good at drawing—just cutting out shapes creates all kinds of unique expressions.
It’s also great that you can make it with things you already have at home, like colored paper, milk cartons, cardboard, color pens, scissors, and toilet paper rolls.
The making process is fun, of course, and playing together as a family over the New Year makes for lively time; thinking about how to combine shapes naturally expands children’s creativity.
Give this warm, easy-to-try, handmade fukuwarai a go.
Fukuwarai with Sumikko Gurashi
A fun at-home activity where you can enjoy the excitement of crafting your own characters.
By freely making and combining facial features, you’ll create expressions that are a little different from the usual characters, bringing smiles every time one is completed.
Once you make one, you’ll want to try others too! It’s great that the play expands across the whole series—like polar bear, cat, and fried shrimp tail.
Just taking turns to make and show them with family and friends gets everyone excited, making it a perfect fuku-warai game for New Year’s festivities.
Mario’s Fukuwarai
Perfect as a handmade activity the whole family can enjoy together.
Watching a parent and child play with the Mario-themed fukuwarai they made looks so much fun, it makes you want to try it yourself.
It’s heartwarming to see the daughter go first, followed by the adults, and it really feels like something only Mario can do—bring excitement across generations.
You’re sure to burst out laughing when an unexpected expression comes together.
Competing to see who can make the funnier Mario is another great way to play.
It’s easy to make and perfect for creating memories over winter break or New Year’s.
Real Fukuwarai
This is a playful, handmade activity full of humor where you stick paper-made facial features onto your own face and have fun.
Just cut out eyes, noses, mouths, and more from paper, add your favorite colors, and you’re ready.
You won’t know what expression you’ll get until you stick them on, which makes it great for laughing together with family and friends.
It’s perfect not only as a New Year’s recreation, but also for taking photos and making memories.
Since it uses simple materials and can be enjoyed by everyone from small children to adults, it’s ideal for anyone who wants to try a fresh take on the traditional fukuwarai game.