Makura-Nage

Makura-nage is a Japanese children's game in which participants throw pillows at each other, its name combining makura, meaning pillow, with nage, meaning throwing. The game traditionally has no fixed rulebook; it is an informal activity rather than a codified sport, typically breaking out among children after the futon bedding has been laid out for the night, especially during summer camps once the official lights-out time has passed. Despite its informal roots, some Japanese ryokan inns now host organized Makura-Nage events as a promotional attraction for guests, giving the once-spontaneous pillow fight a more structured, competitive framing. The activity is also a recurring, easily recognized image in anime and manga, where a Makura-Nage scene is used as a nostalgic shorthand for carefree childhood nights among friends.