けん玉(だま)

けんだま

noun

kendama, cup-and-ball toy

1. kendama, cup-and-ball toy

A traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a handle (ken) with cups on either side and a spike on top, connected by a string to a ball (tama) with a hole. The objective is to catch the ball on the cups or spike through various tricks.

子供(こども)のころ、よくけん玉(だま)で遊(あそ)んだ。

I used to play with a kendama a lot when I was a child.

けん玉(だま)の技(わざ)を練習(れんしゅう)している。

I'm practicing kendama tricks.

最近(さいきん)、けん玉(だま)が海外(かいがい)でも人気(にんき)だ。

Recently, kendama has become popular overseas too.

PARTS OF THE KENDAMA:

剣(けん) (ken) - the handle/spike portion
玉(たま) (tama) - the ball
皿(さら) (sara) - the cups
大皿(おおざら) (large cup)
小皿(こざら) (small cup)
中皿(ちゅうざら) (base cup)
糸(いと) (string)

BASIC TRICKS:

大皿(おおざら) (catching ball on large cup)
小皿(こざら) (catching ball on small cup)
中皿(ちゅうざら) (catching ball on base cup)
とめけん (catching ball on spike)
もしかめ (alternating between cups)
世界一周(せかいいっしゅう) (around the world)

CULTURAL NOTES:

Recognized as a traditional Japanese toy alongside お手玉(てだま) and 竹馬(たけうま)
Japan Kendama Association (日本(にほん)けん玉(だま)協会(きょうかい)) hosts certification levels
Has gained international popularity with competitive tournaments
Modern kendama culture merges traditional play with extreme sports influence

COLLOCATIONS:

けん玉(だま)で遊(あそ)ぶ (to play with kendama)
けん玉(だま)の技(わざ) (kendama tricks)

Related Words

Related: お手玉(てだま) (traditional toy)

general

Added 2026.1.18 8:08 · Revised 2026.7.18 0:26

06500/06523_kendama