is a traditional
Japanese children's game. Small bean bags are tossed and juggled in a game similar to jacks. Although it is generally a social game, Otedama can also be played alone. It is rarely competitive and often accompanied by singing. Otedama play is thought to be in decline.
History
Otedama was transmitted to Japan from China in the
Nara Period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the cap ...
. It reached its peak of popularity in post-World War II Japan when other toys were unavailable. The bean bags, called ''ojami'', were sewn together from strips of silk cloth and contained
azuki beans
''Vigna angularis'', also known as the adzuki bean , azuki bean, aduki bean, red bean, or red mung bean, is an annual vine widely cultivated throughout East Asia for its small (approximately long) bean. The cultivars most familiar in East Asia ...
. During war times, the beans were removed from the bags to feed children; as a result, there were almost no bean bags left in Japan. Otedama almost completely vanished from Japan because of this. In the early 1990s, a small group of people in
Niihama
270px, Niihama City Hall
270px, Aerial View of Central Niihama
is a city located in the eastern part of Ehime Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 115,824 in 57781 households and a population density of 490 persons per ...
created a club and annual convention to help restore otedama throughout Japan.
Basic Game
Otedama was a very popular among girls and knowledge of the game was passed down from grandmother to granddaughter. Specific game play varies widely from region to region. Most play with five bean bags although some variations have been seen. Players take turns throwing and catching the bean bags. Each successive round increases in difficulty with balancing tricks and even juggling.
Otedama has two basic forms: nagedama (投げ玉) and yosedama (よせ玉). Nagedama resembles western juggling with small bean bags. Yosedama is more akin to jacks but bean bags are used instead of jacks.
See also
*
Knucklebones
Knucklebones, also known as scatter jacks, snobs, astragalus, tali, dibs, fivestones, jacks, or jackstones, among many other names, is a game of dexterity played with a number of small objects that are thrown up, caught, and manipulated in var ...
References
*Onishi, Denishiro (2003). ''Otedama: Traditional Japanese Juggling Toys and Games.'' Heian International, Tokyo.
*Carlisle, Rodney P. (2009). Encyclopedia of Play in Today's Society, Vol 1. Sage Publications, Inc.
External links
{{Commons cat, Otedama
Otedama - A Fading Japanese Juggling Tradition
Japanese games