This Bilboquet is both a a cup and ball game and a ring and pin game. In this version there are three "cups" in which to catch the ball, and also a "pin" on which to catch the ball. In this latter case, a hole in the ball substitutes for a "ring". One way to play the game is to hold the handle in one hand, and with the other hand throw the tethered ball into the air and catch the ball on the pin as the ball falls. Then while the ball is on the pin, toss the ball into the air, and catch the ball in the large concave bowl. A third toss - and the ball is to be caught in the reverse side of the bowl which is a concave smaller bowl. A fourth toss - and a player attempts to catch the ball on the base of the concave handle (which is the third "cup" and even smaller bowl). Unlike some other Bilboquet games, this one requires considerable wrist movement along with eye-hand coordination.
This Bilboquet was purchased in 1981 at a Japanese shop in Toronto, Ontario. The dealer indicated that the name of the game in Japanese is Kendama. The game is machine made of hardwood and is hand painted. The handle is 17cm long x 6.3cm wide, and tapers at one end into a point or "pin". A double "cup" resides in the middle of the handle. The tether is a waxed string tied below one side of the "cup" and threaded at the other end through a solid wooden ball. Printed instructions or an external box were not included with the game.
Last update February 26, 2010