Don’t know what to give as a gift to a Japanese child? We will present the newest popular toy items among children! The likelihood of you being satisfied is high!
Table of Contents
How do Japanese children have fun?
Some people will immediately think of computer games and other outdoor activities, such as soccer, biking, or tennis. But forms of entertainment vary depending on the country and time. Japanese games and activities will be presented in this article, choose one and start the fun!
Japanese Toys
Some Japanese educational toys, like many other elements of Japanese culture, have their origins in Chinese tradition. Games borrowed from foreign neighbors have been enjoyed by successive generations of Japanese over the years, who modified their original versions, creating their own tradition of entertainment.
Despite the growing popularity of computer games and other high-tech forms of entertainment, some games are still appreciated by modern Japanese children. Discover the most characteristic Japanese toys and see how much they reflect the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun.
1 – Kites – Tako
Kites are thought to have been introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks who came from China during the Nara period (710-794 AD). There are many different styles and types of kites; in fact, each region of Japan has its own characteristic shape. The decoration usually depicts characters from Japanese folklore or has some religious or symbolic meaning.
2 – Pokémon Card
The latest premium “Pokémon” box contains all the necessary products for Pokémon battles, making it appealing to enjoy the battle. It is also a card game where you can improve your reasoning skills by collecting characters and thinking about the conditions to play the game.
3 – Koma
Koma, or simply a Japanese top, in contrast to the European version, spins powered by a string wrapped around it. The spinning toy entertained the Japanese elite as early as the Heian era (794-1192) and, over the centuries, has received many different versions. Some whistle, others are used for drawing, and others are used for fun, called beigoma.
4 – Kendama
This skill toy came from Japan from China, but its prototype was likely created in France.
It consists of a cross-shaped handle with a tip and three bases, and a ball with a hole attached to it by a string. Despite its simple structure, the Kendama allows you to perform about 100 different tricks. Kendama is not just a toy for children; it also has many followers among adults.
5 – Go (碁)
One of the oldest board games in the world. The game is played on a square board cut by 19 horizontal and 19 vertical lines with white and black stones (flattened to 22 mm in diameter and 7 mm in height). Players alternately place stones on the intersections of the lines. The objective of the game is to obtain as much territory as possible. The captured area consists of free fields well surrounded by one’s own “stones.”
6 – Shogi (将 棋)
Shogi is Japanese chess played on a 9 × 9 board. The shogi players Sente (black) and Gote (white) each have 20 pawns of slightly different sizes, which are marked with kanji. The game is turn-based. The characteristic of shogi is that it is possible to place one of the “dead” pieces back on the board in place of the next move, and each move must check the king.
7 – Origami
Among many types of Japanese games, origami, which literally means “folded paper,” deserves special attention. You don’t need any special equipment to make origami. All you need is a square sheet of paper and a dose of imagination.
In Japan, the art of paper folding has a very long tradition. Paper decorations accompanied letters and gifts sent by samurai and aristocrats, referring to this tradition, origami was a popular leisure activity for children. However, Yoshizawa Akira (1911-2005) elevated origami to the level of art.
Conclusion
In Japan, for centuries, children have played with kendama or a top, or flown kites tako. Traditional games, play, and toys are passed down from generation to generation.
Some games require skill and precision, others require logical thinking and prior planning of a dozen or more of the opponent’s next moves. To become a champion, one must have patience and, at the same time, be curious to know how many techniques and ways to play a game can offer!
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