福笑(ふくわら)い

ふくわらい
noun
pin-the-face game
leisure
1. Japanese pin-the-face game
A traditional New Year's game where blindfolded players try to place facial features on an outline of a face, similar to 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey.'
福笑(ふくわら)いで変(へん)な顔(かお)ができてみんなで笑(わら)った。
We all laughed at the funny face that was made in fukuwarai.
お正月(しょうがつ)には家族(かぞく)で福笑(ふくわら)いをする。
At New Year's, we play fukuwarai as a family.
福笑(ふくわら)いは目隠(めかく)しをして顔(かお)のパーツを置(お)くゲームだ。
Fukuwarai is a game where you place facial parts while blindfolded.

Cultural context: 福笑(ふくわら)い is a traditional New Year (お正月(しょうがつ)) game played with family. The name combines 福(ふく) (fortune/luck) and 笑(わら)い (laughter), reflecting the belief that laughing at New Year brings good luck.

How to play

1. One player is blindfolded
2. They receive cutout pieces (eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows)
3. They try to place them correctly on a blank face outline
4. The resulting face is usually comical, causing laughter

Traditional faces

  • お多福(たふく)/お福(ふく): a round, smiling woman's face (lucky face)
  • ひょっとこ: a comical man's face with puckered lips

Cultural note

  • Laughter is considered auspicious at New Year
  • Simple game enjoyable by all ages
  • Part of traditional indoor New Year activities

Modern use: The term is sometimes used metaphorically for any misaligned or awkward arrangement.

Related Words

Related: 凧揚(たこあ)げ (New Year activity)
Related: 羽根(はね)つき (New Year game)
general
Added 2026.1.19 8:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
07000/07130_fukuwarai