noun
kendama; Japanese cup-and-ball game
A traditional Japanese skill toy consisting of a ball connected by a string to a handle with cups and a spike.
子供の頃、けん玉で遊ぶのが大好きでした。
When I was a child, I loved playing with a kendama.
彼はけん玉の技を練習している。
He is practicing kendama tricks.
Rarely used kanji form.
The name けん玉 is a combination of けん (sword) and 玉 (ball), referring to the spike and ball components. The exact origin of the toy is uncertain, but it is believed to have been inspired by similar cup-and-ball games introduced from the West.