[Rec] Challenge! A roundup of kendama tricks
The traditional toy, kendama.
You might strongly associate it with children’s play, but in recent years it has spread worldwide as a sport—there are even world championships.
Nailing tricks to music has that dance-like vibe—it looks really cool!
In this article, we’ll introduce kendama tricks.
From basic moves to advanced ones.
If you’re thinking of giving kendama a try, be sure to use this as a reference!
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[Rec] Challenge! Kendama Tricks Compilation (1–10)
postdated check
Furikaen: Swing the ball forward, let it spin once, then spike it onto the ken.
Pinch the ken between your thumb and index finger and lightly rest your other fingers on it.
With your other hand, gently draw the ball toward you to get into position.
Swing the ball forward, and when it passes directly beneath, pull the ken toward yourself and stab it into the hole of the returning ball.
The key to this trick is the timing of the pull and the speed you draw it in.
It’s also important to use your knees as effective cushions.
Keep practicing to get the feel for it!
Moshikame (a kendama trick; short for ‘Moshi moshi kame yo’)
“Moshikame” is the move where you repeatedly place the ball on the big cup and then the small cup in order.
The name comes from the fact that it used to be done to the rhythm of the children’s song “Usagi to Kame” (“The Hare and the Tortoise”).
It’s a continuous trick that requires long repetition, but at first it’s crucial to reliably land the ball on both the big cup and the small cup.
Use a knee cushion to lift the ball one time for each catch, and when transitioning to the next movement, don’t rush—take a moment to set up properly before proceeding.
Patient, steady practice without haste is the fastest route to success!
Lead-in candle
With the ken inverted, hold the tip of the spike and take your stance, then swing the tama forward from below and land it on the big cup—this is “Mae-furi Rousoku” (forward-swing candle).
It’s a variation of “Rousoku” (candle), where you normally swing the tama straight up from below to land it, but here you change the tama’s trajectory.
Lightly hold the tama with your other hand while giving it a gentle pull, release it, and when the tama passes directly under the ken, draw the ken toward you and slide the big cup under the tama to catch it.
Key points are the timing of pulling the ken and using your knees as a cushion.
It’s also important to firmly support the spike tip with your fingertips so the ken doesn’t wobble!
[Rec] Challenge! Kendama Trick Compilation (11–20)
Small plate, large plate, medium plate
Move the ball onto the three cups in sequence: small cup, big cup, medium cup.
Turn the big cup toward yourself and hold the ken by pinching it with your thumb and index finger.
Rest your other fingers lightly.
Tilt the ken slightly so the string doesn’t touch the ken or your fingers.
Bend your knees a bit and pull the ball up in one motion, landing it on the small cup with the cup facing up.
After that, rotate your wrist so each cup faces upward as you place the ball onto it in turn.
The key points are to lift the ball with the image of letting it float rather than throwing it too high, and to move only the ken without changing the ball’s position.
Wrist snap and flexible knees are also important!
lighthouse
The trick called “Lighthouse,” where you pull up the ken and set it on the ball.
Hold the ball by wrapping your thumb, index, and middle fingers around its side, and support it from underneath with the remaining two fingers.
Once you’ve got a firm grip on the ball, pull the ken straight up and place it on the ball by bringing the ball under the large cup.
What’s crucial in this trick is the sense of balance needed to keep the ken stable on the round ball.
It helps to practice balance first—such as placing the ken onto the ball by hand, or dropping the ken from a few centimeters above the ball—before attempting the full trick.
airplane
The “Airplane,” where you hold the tama and swing up the ken, then stick the ken tip into the tama’s hole! Lightly grip the tama around the second joints of three or four fingers.
Step one foot back so you can respond flexibly to the ken’s movement, and use your other hand to lightly draw the ken in as you set your stance.
Then, as you bend your knees, release the ken from your hand; when the tama comes directly under the ken, pull the tama sharply toward you.
This gives the ken just the right spin so the tip settles cleanly into the hole.
Using your knees properly at the moment you spike the hole is also key.
Palm airplane
The trick called “Airplane” involves holding the ball, raising the ken, and stabbing the tip into the hole.
Its variation, “Palm Airplane,” starts with both the ken and the ball placed on your palm.
Bend your knees deeply and, as you extend your whole body upward, toss the ken and ball straight up.
While the ball is floating, catch it and land the ken tip into the hole.
It’s a difficult trick that requires calculating everything—the timing of the catch, the orientation of the hole, and how long the ball and ken tip stay in the air—but pulling it off delivers a great sense of accomplishment.
Master the basic tricks first, then give it a try!