Otedama no Hi (Beanbag Juggling Day)

What Is Otedama no Hi?

September 20th is "Otedama no Hi" (Beanbag Juggling Day) in Japan. It commemorates the "1st National Otedama Tournament" held in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, on September 20, 1992, and was established by "Nihon no Otedama no Kai" (the Japan Otedama Association), which has its office in Niihama. "Otedama" are small handmade beanbags that were once a common toy in Japanese households, tossed and caught in patterns similar to juggling. The day aims to share the appeal of this traditional play and spread it across generations.

The Long History of Otedama

Otedama are toys made by filling small cloth bags with azuki beans, rice, or the seeds of juzu-dama (Job's tears). There are several theories about their origin.

• Origins abroad: One theory holds that the game began with European nomads playing with bags of grain; another traces it to "knucklebones," a game played with sheep bones in ancient Greece and Rome. The Japan Otedama Association describes it as an invention of the Lydians (near present-day Turkey) in the 5th century BC.
• Arrival in Japan in the Nara period: The game came from China and, because small stones or crystals were used at the time, it was called "ishinatoridama." A crystal said to have been played with by Prince Shotoku has also been found.
• Cloth otedama since the Edo period: Cloth beanbags like today's were widely made from the Edo period to the early Meiji era. Utagawa Hiroshige's ukiyo-e series "Furyu Osana Asobi" depicts girls playing otedama.

A Game Passed From Mother to Daughter to Granddaughter

Otedama were often sewn from leftover kimono fabric, and the way to make them was handed down within families. During the evacuation of schoolchildren in World War II, some parents are said to have given their children otedama and told them to unpick them and eat the beans inside if they became too hungry. From around the 1950s, as nuclear families became common, passing the game down at home became harder, and today it is kept alive mainly as a traditional game taught at elementary schools and similar places.

Fun Facts About Otedama

• Regional names: Depending on the area, otedama are also called "ojami," "juzudama," or "ishinago."
• The "zabuton" style: One traditional type is the "zabuton" (cushion) style, sewn from four rectangular pieces of fabric.
• Many kinds of filling: Besides azuki beans, rice, and Job's tears seeds, various materials have been used in different regions.
• The idiom "tedama ni toru": Literally "to handle like otedama," it means to manipulate someone as you please.
• "Otedama" in baseball: When a fielder fumbles the ball and bobbles it in the glove or hand, it is also called "otedama" in Japanese.

Ideas for Celebrating Otedama no Hi

• Make a zabuton-style otedama with fabric scraps and azuki beans from around the house.
• Ask grandparents or older people about the otedama games and counting songs of their childhood.
• Try going from two beanbags to three and see how long you can keep going.
• Drop by a traditional-games event at a local children's center or museum.

The Wisdom of Play, Packed Into a Small Bag

September 20th is a day to touch the wisdom of our ancestors packed into small cloth bags, and the joy of a game that connects generations. The fun of otedama lies in dropping them again and again while slowly getting better. Why not pick some up for the first time in a while and enjoy the light rhythm?