Hey, all! My name is Christa, I'm from North Carolina but have been living in Hiroshima, Japan for about a year and a half. I just got into kendama this past Christmas and immediately became completely addicted. I think my kendama story is kinda fun in the serendipity of it all so forgive me for indulging in telling a kinda long story lol. Firstly, as said, I've been living in Hiroshima, "the birthplace of kendama" for over a year, but I only knew of kendama as a peripheral cultural thing. I had wanted one for a while, just as a novelty cultural item, and cause I've always thought traditional toys were cool (I own a few other Japanese ones). And I started thinking, somehow I don't even really remember my thought process, that kendama was an especially cool traditional toy. I actually saw some people casually playing at the Extreme Sports International Festival held in Hiroshima last year and remember being blown away by some of the tricks. Anyway, my girlfriend got me one as a gift this past Christmas. She lives in Japan, too, on the other side of the country in Yamagata. She wanted to get me a nicer kendama than the ones they sell at the 100 yen shop, so she remembered seeing some expensive ones in a local craft store. It was a classic slick Ozora, of course, cause they're made in Yamagata! But neither of us even knew what that was, lol, it was just a regular kendama for us. I started messing with it that night not even knowing what I was doing but as soon as I landed my first big cup to small cup (with completely improper form) I was addicted. I looked up "kendama tricks", learned about moshikame and went straight to practicing that next. I spent the first week playing just practicing moshikame, and being able to watch myself each day progress from barely being able to do it 3 times to 10 times to 25 to 50 to 100 was pure joy for me. I remember the moment I unlocked the secret of bending your knees lol. A day hasn't passed by now since I got that first kendama that I haven't picked it up and practiced for hours. I landed my first lighthouse two days ago! Kendama has really helped me, because I had been fairly severely depressed since moving to Japan, for a lot of reasons. One was that I had to end up giving up almost all my hobbies cause they involved things I don't have access to here anymore. Discovering kendama as a new favorite hobby and it being something I can see myself slowly but steadily progress in has really done tremendous things for my mental state. It feels like the world was conspiring a bit to help me out by introducing it to me, what with my living in Hiroshima where the KWC is and my girlfriend living in Yamagata where Ozoras are born. I love this game and I think it's great that there is such a big community of people who love it too <3 My instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drainspottingjapan/ (started to post pictures of Japanese drains, but gonna start adding kendama videos to it).
@onewordtest Welcome to the boards. If you get a chance you might head over to the JKA (Japan Kendama Association) website to get more info on playing and perhaps connect with local members for meetups etc. There's also a fair amount of info over in the Beginner's section.
Thanks! I've definitely been devouring all the info on the JKA site and working my Kyu levels. There's also a kendama club at my university which I checked out for the first time the other week (on spring break now so won't be able to go back for a while). They were really nice and helped me out learning a ton of new tricks and showing me different types of damas. Even with the language barrier (my Japanese isn't great) they were very welcoming. All guys though, still looking for those fellow local lady players
@onewordtest A fair number of female players in Japan. In fact a lot of the top JKA players are female. Also you might check out the folks over at Yume kendama in Hatsukaichi they have monthly meetups too. Update: I think that Hiroshima is in the Nishi-Chugoku JKA regional block and Hiromu Imada's is the head of it. He goes around to various countries promoting kendama. I'm not sure if he speaks English but it's likely there are others in the group who do. Here's a video about him.
Hello all, I’m brand new to Kendama. I think it’s so cool. I like watching videos of really skilled players. I’m hoping to with ALOT of practice, that I can become a decent, to good Kendama player myself! So, I’m here to learn and meet new people. P.S. any Kendama players here from Louisiana, USA?
The names Ian schuler I’ve been playing Kendama since 2018 and love the way Kendama make you feel when you land a trick. Instagram Instagram.com/Kenbortama
Hello all. My name is Rob and I live in Tampa, Fl. I’m brand new to kendama coming over from the yoyo community. I subscribe to a YouTube channel that does yoyo reviews and discussions, but he also plays kendama. I went ahead and bought my first which was a Sweets Prime and now I can say....I’m hooked.
Yadadaa! What it doookie? Shabooboobalaboopy. my name is Anthony J. Angeles aka AJ. from Las Vegas, Nevada and started playing けん玉 in 2013 and been a huge fan when I got one in my hands thanks to the dance studio called Distrct. I actually don't have an instagram so to me Downspike is more of my social media. have an awesome arse day stayBLESSED doWORK
Hi everyone, I am Morgan and from Minnesota. I have been playing kendama for a few years now off and on. This year I have started to get a little more serious with it and putting more time in and upgraded from my first kendama (a Duncan Komodo Kendama) to a Sweets J11 Gum Bottom (thanks mystery box!) I've been a juggler since high school and that's what led me to kendama's and the skill needed to play. Plus you can't beat that feeling when you lace a good combo after trying to get it for so long. I don't have an instagram at all, and pretty new to the scene so don't know too many people to follow. But I look forward to talking with everyone!
What's up everyone. My name is Tom. I'm a photographer in the north east of the US. I ride bmx and like to sesh beautiful damas. Kendama skills are mediocre at best but I love it. Here's some photos involving kendamas that I've taken.
HeHo, I’m Thomas an old(er) Hippie-Punk-Goth-Darkwave-Electro-guy in its late 30s. I got my first Kendama in February after ordering some skate parts from a netherlands skate shop and while looking for accessories to reach the free shipping order value, there it was, a classic Sunrise in red. Since then I‘m playing daily. I already replaced the Sunrise with a Prime but I still find moshikame and cup tricks somehow more comfy using the old broke-in Sunrise. I collected Zippo lighters for quite a few years but that seems to got replaced by a wooden toy from japan silently. Someone from kekekendamas and sweetskendama.ro could probably ID me now, I guess. I‘m still seshing alone since I haven‘t seen other players in the wild and being a newbie. I live about one hour away from Berlin (the capital of stupidity) somewhere in the middle of nowhere with way too much narcissistic a$$holes around. Ok, that‘s it for the first. Looking forward to get to know some of you guys. Cheers
Yo guys ! I'm Jordan from Lyon, France, actually living in Montreal Canada ! I've been into kendama for like 5 years now! I love kendama, really challenges me everyday and gives me the possibility to do an insane amount of tricks. I'm a photographer/filmmaker so I can also put some creativity into kendama, that's cool ! I'd love to share my best edit so far, something a bit different that you should be used to I guess, 6 months in the making of this so enjoy : Cheers
@Jordan Jacquier Welcome to the boards. Cool video, very creative. I've put it up into the DS video rotation.
Yo fellow crater-makers, I'm Bradley, Started Kendama right at the start of Jan 2020, and have been documenting my progress on the daily on insta. I started juggling shortly before in December, and have gotten incredibly hooked. Found this place of help when I needed advice, thought I'd sign up to get better advice and give advice to others. Currently failing at borders balance, but I want that so bad. Say Hi to my family:
hi my name is Peyton i got a TJ Kolesnik pro mod in December of 2019 but didn't get into Kendama until recently. looking to get a Kendama with a sticky Tama for balance tricks, any recommendations?
Hey @PCali welcome to the boards. Check out some of these threads found using the Search function. Best "sticky" clear? Paint Types Paint consistency? "Looking for" thread links Also have a look here.
Hey! My name is Alex Spiotto, i've been playing kendama since dec 2019 but ive had a white sunrise since 2011ish. From Roswell, GA now living in Seattle, WA, always looking for more friends to play kendama with! I also ride fixed gear bikes and fingerboard in my free time (my fingerboard instagram account is @drinkball ) Im extremely fascinated about kendama history and especially edits/lore of kendama from the late 2000's to modern day and look forward to meeting a bunch of great people from this wonderful skill toy.