A few weeks ago, we saw Kandama’s outside schools, appartment blocks, homes, and parks throughout Cluj. However, on Saturday, Iulius Mall had a Kendama competition which overtook all expectations.
On the stage, a few at a time could compete with all kinds of tricks one might normally reserve for juggling balls or yoyos. The Kendama, we soon learned, could do much more than just catch a ball in a gap or on a spike.
But beyond the stage, and beyond the sea of (mostly boys) waiting their turn to compete, we could see Kendama being used outside the mall. Teenagers, perhaps even a few young men, could be seen practicing their Kendama in groups, perhaps waiting for the next competition. Even inside the supermarkets and other shops, we saw boys catching the balls with their Kendamas.
The ages of Kendama uses went from primary school all the way up to maybe even a few university students.
The enthusiasm for this new sport in Cluj Napoca is great. The wooden Kendama might last longer than a more breakable plastic toy, and it doesn’t require a lot of space to play.
It is probably better for things like hand-eye coordination, focus building, and patience than traditional video games, and it doesn’t require being plugged in or constant software updates. We only wish we had a little Kendama store, we are so enthusiastic about how fun it looks. As it is, you can get Kendama’s in many parts of Cluj, so if they are sold out in your favorite shops, keep looking.
We first learned Kendama from a Japanese student, but now you can probably learn it from a Romanian, there are so many experts out there. Kendama seems to have been invented in Japan, as an adaptation of the French game Billboquet (cup-in-ball), but the Japanese version it is now popular with people who know nothing about its origins.
We expect more Kendama competitions in the future. Kendama Day is 14th of May.