Kendama

Kendama is a traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a handle known as the ken, attached by a cord to a ball called the tama, with the ken bearing three cups of different sizes and a spike that fits into a hole in the ball. Players use a combination of wrist and arm motion to swing, catch and balance the ball on the cups or spike it onto the spike hole, building a large repertoire of named tricks ranging from basic cup catches to complex juggling style combinations. Though its exact origins are debated, cup and ball style toys existed in many cultures, and the kendama in its current form became widely popular in Japan during the twentieth century, later spreading internationally through skill toy and freestyle communities. Contemporary kendama play ranges from casual practice to organized competitions judging trick difficulty and execution, and dedicated kendama clubs and manufacturers now operate in many countries outside Japan.