Games and recreational activities enjoyable in a wheelchair

Tea dumplings & tea buns

Hand play “Tea Dango & Tea Manju”

This is a finger game played to a song called “Ocha Dango & Ocha Manju.” For “Ocha Dango,” you answer with the number that adds up to 5 with the number the leader shows.

For example, if the leader shows 2, the correct answer is 3.

“Ocha Manju” works the same way, but you use both hands to show the number that adds up to 10 with the leader’s number.

It’s fun to play to the rhythm, and since you’re thinking as you play, it also works as brain training.

Gather in a circle and enjoy playing together.

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sasashina

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Magical Banana

From Magical Banana: The Newest and Most Fun Recreation Games

The popular variety show “Magical Brain Power!!,” hosted by Eiji Bando, was something everyone looked forward to every week.

The show spawned many games and became a huge craze among both kids and adults.

The most popular of all was “Magical Banana.” It’s a game that’s still enjoyed today in various forms.

The rules are very simple: you just link associated words—“Magical Banana: when you say banana, you think yellow; when you say yellow, you think sunflower; when you say sunflower, you think summer,” and so on.

It’s a game everyone can enjoy, whether they use a wheelchair or not.

Brimming with nostalgia, it comes highly recommended!

Bamboo Shoot Nyoki

Takenoko Nyokki (from “The Latest and Most Fun Recreation Games”)

Here’s a game called Takenoko Nyokki that everyone can enjoy together—both wheelchair users and non-users.

You chant the phrase “Takenoko takenoko nyokki-ki,” then raise your stacked hands upward as if a bamboo shoot is sprouting.

The first person to raise their hands says “1 nyokki,” the next says “2 nyokki,” and so on, counting up.

The key points are that if you say a number at the same time as someone else, you’re out—and if you end up being the very last person, you’re also out.

It’s a recreational game where reading the room and strategic timing are important, letting you enjoy the thrill and tension of interacting with others.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Shooting game

It’s a game that reminds me of a shooting gallery. 🥰

This is a game inspired by the shooting booths you see at festivals and amusement parks.

Players hold ping-pong balls taken from a basket and try to knock down lined-up figurines and paper cups.

It can also be a lively event where participants compete to see how many items they can topple within a time limit.

It’s a good idea to prepare various types of balls—not only ping-pong balls, but also beanbags and rubber balls.

It’s a game you can enjoy while seated, just by moving your arms.

Why not try organizing an activity that brings a touch of nostalgia?

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mutō

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Domino arrangement

Dominoes! Indoor games, seniors, recreation

This is a game that requires dexterous fingers and concentration: arranging dominoes.

The rules are very simple—you use chopsticks to stand up dominoes that have been scattered on a tray.

Just imagining it makes your heart race; it sounds challenging.

You can boost the benefits by not only standing them up, but also adding a time limit or specifying where pieces must be placed.

The more you set up, the more nerve-wracking it becomes as the risk of knocking into other dominoes rises—a thrilling kind of play.

Use more focus than usual and have fun tiring yourself out!

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Murakami Shinpei

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