In 1777, when it first arrived in the port city of Nagasaki, Japanese sailors and merchants made a drinking game out of it. Today the Kendama has a loyal following all over the globe. A subculture of ball & cup fanatics emerged, experts and beginners alike. The goal is simple — land the Tama (ball) on the spike or one of the three cups of the Ken. But don’t let appearances fool you; this is a game of skill.

With hundreds of tournaments worldwide, one thing that’s for sure is Kendama is as addicting as it is fun. While promoting razor-sharp hand-eye coordination, Kendama has proved itself a toy for the creative — the combinations of tricks and moves are virtually endless.