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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.'
Cultural context: 福笑い is a traditional New Year (お正月) game played with family. The name combines 福 (fortune/luck) and 笑い (laughter), reflecting the belief that laughing at New Year brings good luck.
Cultural note
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
- 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.
TYPES (traditional faces):
- お多福/お福: a round, smiling woman's face (lucky face)
- ひょっとこ: a comical man's face with puckered lips