お手玉(てだま)

Traditional game

• Traditionally played by girls
• Often accompanied by 童謡(どうよう) (children's songs)
• Passed down through generations

The bags

• Filled with 小豆(あずき) (azuki beans), 数珠玉(じゅずだま) (Job's tears seeds), or plastic pellets
• Made from colorful fabric, often in 俵(たわら)型(かた) (bale shape)
• Typically play with 3-5 bags

Playing styles

• 振(ふ)り玉(だま) (toss and catch from same hand)
• 寄(よ)せ玉(だま) (gather scattered beanbags)
• Various patterns with counting songs

Cultural note

• One of the 昔(むかし)の遊(あそ)び (traditional Japanese games)
• Often taught at お正月(しょうがつ) (New Year) events
• Part of cultural preservation activities in schools

Common collocations

• お手玉(てだま)をする (to play otedama)
• お手玉(てだま)で遊(あそ)ぶ (to play with beanbags)
• お手玉(てだま)を投(な)げる (to toss beanbags)