The 8 Best Kendamas

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This wiki has been updated 27 times since it was first published in January of 2017. Kendamas are proof that kids don't need screens or high-tech gadgets to be entertained. Once they get their hands on one of these traditional Japanese toys, they can't stop playing. In addition to their fun value, they help develop hand-eye coordination and have no small parts to lose and no batteries to replace. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Kotaro Pro

2. Kaleb Earth Marble

3. Kaizen Padauk

Editor's Notes

July 30, 2019:

Fads come and go, especially among school-aged kids, but it would be dismissive to call the kendama a fad because it has been a popular game for hundreds of years. In today's connected world, where YouTube can provide expert coaching and give stunning examples of tricks for kids to learn, the toy should continue to be popular for years to come.

The toy is composed of aptly named parts: the "ken," or handle, and the "tama," or ball. Now you can see where it gets its name. For the hard-core enthusiasts, there are other fun names to learn, such as "kensaki" (tip), "ozara" (big dish), and "ito" (string).

In this update, we added several units based on their high quality and great value, and that's why we like the newly added Bamboo 2-Pack, which gives you two toys for the price of one. We also removed several items due to concerns about their availability.

4. Kendama Kraze Samurai

5. Bamboo 2-Pack

6. Red & Yellow Cracked

This item has been flagged for editorial review and is not available.

7. YoYoFactory Catchy Air

8. Kaleb Red Sea

This item has been flagged for editorial review and is not available.


Joseph Perry
Last updated by Joseph Perry

An avid reader and outdoors enthusiast, Joe earned his doctorate in literary studies before making the lateral leap from academia to technical writing. He now lives and works in the inter-mountain West where he creates technical and marketing content, including white papers, solution briefs, and courseware for some of the world’s largest information technology companies. With more than 14 years of experience in the field, he has learned more than he ever thought he would know about such enterprise IT topics as cloud computing, storage, databases, business software, and networking. When he’s not writing about business computing, he can be found outdoors, probably hiking with his family and dog.


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