Success Rate of the “Kendama” Challenge
Abstract
In recent years, the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen—a popular year-end music show broadcast throughout Japan—has included a unique segment: a group attempt to break a Guinness World Record using the traditional Japanese cup-and-ball toy kendama . 1 This segment involves participants performing a basic kendama trick known as ōzara , or “big cup,” where the ball is caught on the larger of the two side cups of the toy. Each person takes a turn, and the goal is to count how many people can successfully complete the trick in a row.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Sports Analytics and Performance
Physical education and sports games research
Physical Education and Sports Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- A K Peters/CRC Press eBooks
- Pages
- 71–74
- Publication date
- 17 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter