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.'
福笑いで変な顔ができてみんなで笑った。
We all laughed at the funny face that was made in fukuwarai.
お正月には家族で福笑いをする。
At New Year's, we play fukuwarai as a family.
福笑いは目隠しをして顔のパーツを置くゲームだ。
Fukuwarai is a game where you place facial parts while blindfolded.
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.
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/お福: a round, smiling woman's face (lucky face)
- ひょっとこ: a comical man's face with puckered lips
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
- 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.