Kendama is a simple and minimalistic toy/hobby that is growing in popularity everyday. Anyone familiar with Japanese culture will notice it instantly as a traditional Japanese toy that consists of a 'cross' wooden piece (Ken) and a ball (Tama).
The goal of playing with the Kendama is either catching the Tama on one of the three cups on the Ken, the big cup, small cup, or base cup. Alternatively, the harder objective is to hit a Spike, which means catching the Tama on the spiked end of the Ken. This would be the hardest catch of the four catches.
Kendama players have many various combinations and tricks, catching the Tama on various cups and balancing the Tama on various places on the Ken before completing their trick off with a Spike. It is as simple as that. It may sound easy, but actually pulling off the tricks may require lots of time and practice to perfect. Even the best Kendama players are not able to hit each and every trick 100% all the time.
Now that you know a bit of what and how a Kendama works, we would like to feature 6 different Kendamas, and make comparisons between them and how they felt when in play. Read on to find out more about the various Kendamas.
TK-16
TK-16 Stats
Height: 18.4cm
Weight (Total): 143grams
Weight (Tama): 72grams
Weight (Ken): 71grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.9cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.2cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.4cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 1.9cm
The TK-16 feels and plays solidly and has a great balance between Ken and Tama. Furthermore, it has a good weight for a Kendama and it just feels easier to control. The Tama has a shiny coat of paint which may make tricks like Lighthouse, Lunars, etc more difficult, but not impossible. The String holes (when you feel the need to change strings) are only on the Cup section of the Ken and not drilled straight through the Ken, like other Kendama models. This means that the string is lodged between the Cup section and the Spike section of the Ken. If you are looking to get an authentic Kendama that is direct from where it originally came from, the TK-16 is definitely a good choice. The TK-16 is endorsed by the Japan Kendama Association and is allowed for official contest use in Japan.
Ozora
Ozora Stats
Height: 18cm
Weight (Total): 132grams
Weight (Tama): 66grams
Weight (Ken): 66grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.8cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.2cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.6cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 1.9cm
The Ozora feels slightly lighter than its TK-16 counterpart. This may be due to the fact that the Ozora we chose to use was a raw one without a painted Tama. Since it was lighter, it played quicker than the other Kendamas we played with. However, despite it being lighter, it still was well-balanced and constructed beautifully. As with all raw Kendamas, these are able to do Lighthouse, Lunars, etc slightly easier as raw wood is less smooth and slippery than those with painted Tamas. Again, like the TK-16, the String holes are only on the Cup section of the Ken and not drilled straight through the entire Ken. This means that the end of the string will be snuggly lodged between the cup section and the spike section of the Ken. The Ozora is endorsed by the Japan Kendama Association and is allowed for official contest use in Japan. However, we hear that these raw versions of the Ozora are no longer allowed for competition use in Japan.
Sweets
Sweets Stats
Height: 18.7cm
Weight (Total): 148grams
Weight (Tama): 74grams
Weight (Ken): 74grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.9cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.4cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.6cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 2.1cm
The Sweets Kendama plays fast and nimble, and it feels solid. They weigh in at a nice, comfortable weight that is not too heavy and not too light, but when in play, they feel a little on the light side. The cool thing about Sweets Kendamas are the paint coating that is used on the Tamas. They are coated with a hard coat of paint that is durable and does not chip too easily. Furthermore, the finish on the Tama is matte, thus it is more sticky and players are able to do Lighthouse type tricks easier. Even the color tones of the Tama is unique and cool. For the Sweets, the String holes are only on the Cup section of the Ken and not drilled straight through the entire Ken. So when changing strings, players will need to lodge the end of the string between the cup section and the spike section of the Ken.
KendamaUSA Tribute
Tribute Stats
Height: 18.6cm
Weight (Total): 161grams
Weight (Tama): 89grams
Weight (Ken): 72grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.9cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.3cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.5cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 2cm
The Tribute is solid and heavy. If you prefer your Kendama weightier to be able to feel each catch and spike, then the Tribute is definitely for you. The good thing about having such a weighty Kendama is that you will be able to control, direct each movement and land the Tama with more precision. Having said that, the Tribute has a painted, shiny Tama that will make Lighthouse type tricks slightly harder and much more challenging. The Tribute is a great Kendama for any player. If you are just starting out or have played for years, the Tribute needs to be in your collection for sure. One thing that is good (or not good depending on how you feel about it) is that the string hole is drilled through the entire Ken. This makes changing strings easier, without needing to remove the cup section from the spike section. The Tribute is a must-have for players who want a 'heavy' Kendama.
KendamaUSA Pro Model 2013
Pro Model 2013 Stats
Height: 18.2cm
Weight (Total): 140grams
Weight (Tama): 72grams
Weight (Ken): 68grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.7cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.2cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.6cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 2cm
The Pro Model 2013 Kendama is not just for Pro players. Having said that, it actually would probably benefit players who are new and are trying to learn how to land Lighthouses, Birds, Lunars, etc. The reason for this is that the finish on the Tama is sticky, grippy and makes landing those tricks easier. The Pro Model 2013 plays fast and is very well-balanced. This Kendama makes it so easy to land Lighthouse that some players deem this the 'almost-cheating' Kendama. But there is no shame in being a Pro and using a Pro Model! Again, like the Tribute, the string hole is drilled through the entire Ken and this makes changing strings easy and fast. The finish on the Tama is unlike any other Kendama available, and the matte colors makes the Kendama look great. Though this Kendama is weighed more towards the lighter spectrum of Kendamas, it is probably one of the best we have used.
Duncan Kodomo
Kodomo Stats
Height: 18.5cm
Weight (Total): 150grams
Weight (Tama): 81grams
Weight (Ken): 69grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.8cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.2cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.6cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 2cm
The Kodomo Kendama is a slightly heavier and solid feeling Kendama. Just like the Tribute, the Tama is weighty and that means that you get to feel the ball when it is in motion more than other Tamas. The Kodomo Tama comes with 2 stripes on it to allow players to see the position of the ball when it is in motion or in the air, and time their catches or spikes accordingly. The shiny, smooth surface of the Tama makes Lighthouses, etc difficult, but again, not impossible. Just like the KendamaUSA Kendamas, the string hole is drilled through the entire Ken, making string changes simple and quick. This Kendama is great for players who prefer a mid to heavy weighted Kendama, and is great for beginners to start learning Kendama tricks on.
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And that wraps up our review and dissection of six commonly found and used Kendamas. Of course, there are other popular Kendama brands and models out there. When we get our hands on those, we will be sure to update and do a review on them as well. But till then, choose your Kendama, keep it minimal and don't forget to Spike!
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