Lovely Play & Recreation

New Year’s Games: Traditional Play and Fun Activities That Excite Everyone from Kids to Adults

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

New Year’s is a special time when family and relatives gather.

But are you wondering, “What should we all do together?” In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of ideas to liven up the New Year, from nostalgic traditional games to easy, DIY activities you can make and play with everyday materials.

There’s a wide variety—games everyone can enjoy across generations and active ones that use a large space! There are also many activities you can enjoy while spending time with grandparents.

How about creating special New Year memories together as a family?

New Year’s Games: Traditional Pastimes & Fun Games for All Ages (41–50)

first calligraphy of the year

The first New Year of the Reiwa era♪ What are your resolutions for 2020? Let’s do the first calligraphy of the year together☆ himawari-CH

first calligraphy of the year

Some kids even started playing Go after reading the smash-hit manga Hikaru no Go.

By that logic, plenty of people might have taken up calligraphy or penmanship after reading calligraphy-themed manga like Tomehane!, Barakamon, or Shosen Toppa! How about doing a first-calligraphy-of-the-year with just the right balance—keeping Tomehane’s detailed rules in mind, but staying reasonably free? There’s a saying, “The year’s plan begins on New Year’s Day,” so let’s boldly commit your New Year’s goals to paper in calligraphic form!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Hama-nage

Hama-nage

Hama-nage

Hamanage is a traditional New Year’s game that has been played in Kagoshima, Satsuma for roughly 800 years.

Players strike a wooden disc called a “hama,” which is made by cutting a log into slices about 6 cm in diameter, using a wooden stick called a “botto,” similar to a hockey stick.

Although the game temporarily declined due to a prohibition order in the Taisho era, it was revived with the establishment of a preservation society in 1963 (Showa 38) and has remained popular to this day.

New Year’s is a time when many of us want to reconnect with the beauty of traditional Japan.

Why not experience Japanese culture through games passed down from ancient times?

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bamboo-copter

[Handmade Toys] Let’s enjoy New Year’s with traditional games 🎍 Let’s make an easy bamboo-copter (taketombo) using a milk carton ^_^

bamboo-copter

A taketombo is a simple toy made of a wooden stick and propeller-like wings, which you play with by spinning the winged tip.

You can also make a taketombo from materials like milk cartons or construction paper instead of wood, making it easy for anyone to enjoy.

It also helps children physically grasp a physics concept: the initial thrust is converted by rotation into inertia—the energy that keeps it spinning.

For young kids, this makes it a recommended activity that can benefit their future studies.

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stilts

I made stilts for New Year’s and tried riding them! (Practice scene)

stilts

Take-uma is a game where you assemble a long bamboo pole and a short bamboo pole in a cross shape, sit sideways on the short pole, and try to walk without falling off.

Because bamboo has a relatively small base, keeping your balance is very difficult, and at first even just standing still is hard.

It’s challenging not only for children but also for adults, so it could be fun for the whole family to try and see who can master it the fastest.

When you try it, make sure to prioritize safety and do it in a wide, open area with no people or objects nearby.

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hoop rolling

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hoop rolling

“Hoop rolling” is perfect for large spaces like schoolyards, gymnasiums, or recreation rooms! It’s a game where you guide a stick along the groove of a hoop and move forward as you roll it.

The keys to successful hoop rolling are maintaining a good pace and keeping your posture steady.

If you go too slowly, the hoop is more likely to topple; if you go too fast, the hoop may shoot ahead on its own.

In other words, being able to run steadily with the stick held snugly against the hoop can make all the difference.

Get your body moving and enjoy a refreshing New Year!

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In conclusion

From games you can enjoy while relaxing with family to activities that get you moving, New Year’s play offers a wide range of ways to have fun.

Precisely because games and social media are so familiar today, why not deepen cross-generational connections through traditional, analog pastimes? During the special time of the New Year, make memories with your loved ones while experiencing Japan’s traditional culture!