Lecture by Hokuryu Kendama Club representative Naoki Kishi (Hokuryu Town Board of Education, Social Education Officer) "The History of the Hokuryu Kendama Club and Kendama Recreation that Anyone Can Enjoy" @Hokuryu Town Himawari University

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

The Hokuryu Town Sunflower University Lecture (sponsored by the Board of Education) was held in the large hall of the community center from 10:00 on Thursday, September 12th.

◉ Instructor: Naoki Kishi, Representative of Hokuryu Kendama Club (Social Education Officer, Hokuryu Town Board of Education)
◉ Title: The history of Hokuryu Kendama Club and fun Kendama recreation for everyone @Himawari University

The lecturer will be Kishi Naoki, representative of Hokuryu Kendama Club (social education officer, Hokuryu Town Board of Education), and the title of his talk will be "The history of the Hokuryu Kendama Club and fun recreation for everyone."

Approximately 30 students from Himawari University participated and spent a meaningful time learning about "social education through Kendama" in Hokuryu Town.

Hokuryu Kendama Club celebrates its 3rd anniversary

Hokuryu Kendama Club was founded in 2021 (Reiwa 3) and will celebrate its third anniversary on Saturday, September 14th this year.

Explanation of Kendama types

1. Toy Kendama
   ○ Small Kendama available through gacha
   　
2. Competition Kendama "Ozora" (Made in Japan)
   　
3. Sweets Kendama (Made in the USA)
   ○ Currently mainstream Kendama
   The difference with Japanese-made products is that the plate is slightly larger, making the balls less slippery and easier to ride, and making them more stable.
   ○ It is also used in the World Cup
   Anyone can apply to participate in the World Cup. This year, a child from Asahikawa came in third place in his age group.
   　
4. Dice Ken
   ○ The ball is not a ball, but a dice-like "face." Kendama made with a 3D printer
   　
5. Tsutsuken (the length of the tube varies)
   ○ Play by throwing a ball (with sand inside) into a tube like a potato chip box.
   ○ Tsutsuken won the "Good Toy 2021 Award" and the category award "Multi-Generational Exchange Award"
   　
6. Five-barrel Kendama
   ○ Kendama where five balls are placed on the plate at once
   ○ There are 10-chain and 20-chain Kendama machines available.

The history of the Hokuryu Town Kendama Club

The impetus for the launch of the Kendama Club was the event "Kendama Ken-chan is Coming!", which was held as part of the "Children and Seniors Interaction Project (sponsored by the Board of Education)" held in 2020 (Reiwa 2).

It all started with the 2020 event "Kendama Kenchan is Coming!"

The Children and Elderly Interaction Program is a program that aims to foster respect and compassion for the elderly in children, who will be the leaders of the next generation, by utilizing the rich experience and diverse abilities of the elderly and through activities that allow them to interact with the elderly.

Naoki Kishi's idea to bring Kendama to Hokuryu Town

Before coming to Hokuryu, Kishi worked for three years at the Hokkaido Youth Experience Activity Support Facility Nepal Fukagawa in Otoe-cho, Fukagawa City. Using the connections he made there, he held a Kendama event in Hokuryu.

• There are six prefectural youth experience activity support facilities in Hokkaido (in Sunagawa City, Fukagawa City, Mori Town, Kitami City, Ashoro Town, and Akkeshi Town). There is active interaction between the facilities, and information is exchanged enthusiastically.
• At the time, Kendama Kenchan, also known as Saito Retsu, was previously working at the Nepal facility in Morimachi.
• When I changed jobs to work at the Hokuryu Town Hall, I thought I'd try Kendama in Hokuryu Town. I approached Kendama Kenchan, also known as Saito Retsu, and he immediately agreed, saying "Sure," and so the business event in Hokuryu Town came to fruition.
• Saito-san had moved from Mori-machi to Atsuma-cho due to the effects of the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake (which occurred in September 2018). Ken-chan had already started a Kendama club in Atsuma-cho at that time.
• In 2020, everyone was wearing masks and feeling a bit depressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but being able to enjoy Kendama together blew away the gloomy atmosphere.
• Ken-chan's event was not a competition of kendama skills, but rather playing with building blocks and dominoes with kendama. It was so much fun that the children cheered and got excited, and everyone cooperated to play the game happily. Children and the elderly all enjoyed the kendama game together.

Children want to play Kendama more

• The children exclaimed, "Kendama is fun!" and "I want to do more!"
• The feeling that I was not good at Kendama came from the belief that I had to complete difficult tricks.
• After the event ended that day, Kendama Kenchan said to me, "If there's this much excitement in Hokuryu Town, why don't you try starting a Kendama Club?"

Creating a place where people can play together through Kendama

• At that time, Mr. Kishi replied, "That's great, but I can't teach Kendama!"
• Ken-chan's response was, "There's no need to teach people how to play Kendama! I just want to create a place where children and adults can play together through Kendama!"

This comment from Ken-chan was the catalyst for Kishi to start playing kendama in Hokuryu Town, and it was at this time that he first sensed the true essence of kendama.

Mr. Kishi believes that the role of a social education officer is to "connect people"

• A social education officer is a specialized educational staff member assigned to the board of education of a prefecture or city, town, or village based on the Social Education Act (Hokuryu Town does not employ social education specialists, so personnel may be transferred to other departments). The title of social education officer can be used when a qualified person is appointed by the town.
• On the other hand, the "social education specialist" is a title that was introduced in 2020 and is given to professionals who play a central role in developing people and communities through learning. Anyone can obtain the qualification, even if they are not a civil servant. Rather than leading, it is an activity that feels like "Let's run together like a companion!"
• The social education director will plan social education projects (Himawari University, community center courses, etc.), support the learning activities of local residents, etc. In addition, he will develop and understand human resources, and promote cooperation between school education and social education.
• In other words, to put it simply, the role of a social education director is to "connect people."

Hokuryu Kendama Club is "creating a place where children and adults can connect"

Mr. Kishi decided that if the role of a social education officer is to "connect people," then he should use kendama to "create a place where children and adults can connect" that had never existed before in Hokuryu Town! He decided to start the "Hokuryu Kendama Club" where both children and adults could play together.

2021: Hokuryu Kendama Club was founded

However, just as they got excited and said, "Okay, let's do it!", the effects of COVID-19 caused all related facilities to close, and the Kendama Club's activities were suspended.

Finally, on September 14th, 2021, the "Hokuryu Kendama Club" was founded! One year has passed since the idea was first conceived, and it has now become a reality!!!

Solve problems one after another!

• A system for gathering people = Realizing the difficulty of inviting and gathering people
• Solve the problem using the problem-solving methods that you always practice in your work as a social education officer!
• I realized that solving problems would help me move forward, so I was good at (and liked) solving problems.

Creating a system to bring people together: "Be free!" "Have fun!" "Be serious when you play!"

• Set three loose rules!
  "Be free!" "Have fun!" "Be serious when you play!"

• This gathering is not a "boys' club" or an "intimate gathering."
• If we make it as strict as club activities, it will be difficult for children to be motivated.
• "You can take a break anytime" and "You can come anytime" are encouraged to participate freely.

Set a time slot for participation! One hour from 6pm to 7pm

1. Set an evening time when both children and adults can come
   The practice time for the volleyball youth team at the community center is until 7pm. Adults can also practice after work. Therefore, the one hour from 6pm to 7pm is set as the activity time for the Kendama club! Furthermore, Tuesday is selected as the day when the baseball youth team can come.
   　
2. Participation is open not only to those within the town, but also to those outside the town.
   The idea spread spontaneously among children and families in the town, and within a week the existence of the "Kendama Club" was widely known.
   　

Posting information on Instagram

• Being featured in the media is the best way to get people to know about us. We set up an Instagram account as a way to do that.
• Share your daily activities! Information is updated in real time, so you can see at a glance how your activities are progressing.
• I currently have 1,238 followers on Instagram, which has boosted my confidence and motivated me to continue my work.

• This Instagram post has been featured in the mass media (NHK Asahikawa, Kita Sorachi Shimbun, etc.)
• If you post information online, it will be picked up by the mass media, which will have a significant secondary effect.
• I hope that the event will become known among the local people and that more and more people will think, "I want to try it! I want to go!"

Changing the image of Kendama from "competing skills" to "playing"

• In games like the Unicorn Race, the winners were not adults but fourth-graders.
• The children get to win a medal, which gives them a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

• The aim is for the activity to be fun even if you can't do Kendama tricks.
• Currently, children from Uryu and Numata towns, as well as Hokuryu town, are also participating.
• If you make time to immerse yourself in play, fun will come naturally!

The fun of Kendama is the sense of accomplishment when you succeed!

• The moment you realize you've done it, this sense of accomplishment creates enjoyment
• "Maybe if I do it this way I'll get better," I think, and as I continue to work hard, the joy and realization I feel when I finally complete a technique using my physical senses leads to my own growth.
• The moment they complete the level, both adults and children are filled with excitement and joy.

Creating a mechanism to complete Kendama tricks

◉ Components of the technique "Ozara"

1. Learn how to hold it
2. Use your knees to lift the ball straight up
3. Predicting the impact point
4. Move the plate to the drop point
5. Use your knees to release the momentum of the fall and catch the ball in the center of the plate

If you think like that, you might feel like it's difficult, so change your way of thinking and

◉ Practical practice of "large plate" divided into three stages

To make it fun and gradual, you will start with simple practice before attempting actual techniques.

1. Large plate drop ball: Drop the ball from above to remove it.
2. Platter Hop: Use your knee to lift the ball up and catch it
3. Large Plate: In the third stage, try the large plate technique.

When trying to master the large plate technique, it's best to divide it into three stages, and by increasing the number of times you can say "I did it!", you'll be more motivated to do it again!

The past activities of Naoki Kishi and the Hokuryu Kendama Club

2021

September 14th: Hokuryu Kendama Club was founded and its first activity was held
October 2nd: Met Mr. Akamatsu, the manager of a Kendama shop in Asahikawa City.
October 5th: First technical training session. The instructor was Mr. Akamatsu, manager of the Asahikawa Kendama Shop.
November 26th: Featured on the Global Kendama Network's Kendama MAP
December 21st: First independent event held. The 1st Hokuryu Kendama Festival.

2022

January 1st: The Kita Sorachi Shimbun newspaper features a story about the independent event.
February 23rd: Attended the Global Kendama Network Kendama Teacher Training Course
February 23rd: Become a Global Kendama Network certified Kendama teacher
July 5th: The 2nd Hokuryu Kendama Festival was held as an independent event.
September 20th: Hokuryu Kendama Club 1st Anniversary Tournament

2023

January 21st: The 3rd Hokuryu Kendama Festival was held as an independent event.
March 8th: Hokuryu Kendama Club makes its TV debut on NHK (Northern Hokkaido edition)
March 18th: The first independent event, the Hekisui Police Station Cup, was held (co-hosted with the police station).
July 9th: The 4th Hokuryu Kendama Festival was held as an independent event.
August 9th: Kendama booth set up at Himawari no Sato (4 days)
September 6th: National TV debut on Osanpo Hokkaido
September 26th: Hokuryu Kendama Club 2nd Anniversary Tournament
October 1st: Opened a Kendama booth at the Wanpaku Festival held at the Fukagawa City Ikigai Cultural Center
November 12th: Set up a Kendama booth at the Town Citizens' Exchange Festival held at Yumekkuru in Numata Town (morning). Set up a Kendama booth at Manabi Pia Fukagawa held at Fukagawa City Central Community Center (afternoon).
December 31st: Participated in the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen as a Kendama Hero

2024

January 27th: The 5th Hokuryu Kendama Festival was held as an independent event.
April 2nd: The 2nd Hekisui Police Station Cup, an independent event, was held (co-hosted with the police station).
April 21st: Acquired Tsutsuken Ambassador qualification
June 25th: The 6th Hokuryu Kendama Festival was held as an independent event.
August 4th: The first independent event was held at Himawari no Sato. The 1st Hokuryu Kendama Festival (held on August 4th): ~Let's play kendama while looking at the sunflowers in full bloom~ Approximately 70 people participated.
August 8th Hokkaido Television interview (On-chan in the Streets): Broadcast date: October-November
○ September 24th: Hokuryu Kendama Club 3rd Anniversary Tournament to be held

Kendama is good for your health!

1. Kendama is a full-body exercise:It burns calories similar to walking, making it a great exercise for rainy days.
   　
2. Brain activation:Maintain balance. Move your eyes. Move your body. Exercise while doing other things.
   ○ Doing familiar techniques has a brain-boosting effect that helps develop concentration.
   ○ Doing unfamiliar tricks activates the brain and improves memory.
   ○ It also helps prevent dementia
   　
3. Stress relief:"I did it!" leads to a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment

Everyone tries out the Kendama "Hand-held Lighthouse" game

• Divide into 3 groups (10 people each) and compete against the clock in the "Lighthouse Loading" game!
• A technique to place a sword on the ball with both hands and stop it. Players take turns playing and compete for the time when everyone can clear the ball.

Practice on your own!

Hokuryu Kendama Club celebrates its 3rd anniversary!

A Kendama club that connects children and adults, people and communities!
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Hokuryu Kendama Club, where members share the joy and excitement of achieving something, practice their skills together with their friends, and enjoy playing to their heart's content while working hard together.

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