A charming collection of Japanese traditional children’s toys known as Mukashi Asobi (昔遊び), literally meaning “games of old” or “old-fashioned play.” These simple, skill-based toys evoke the nostalgic world of childhood in Japan before electronic entertainment, when games were enjoyed with little more than wood, paper, string, and a bit of practice.
This delightful set brings together several classic forms of Japanese play, presented in a rustic woven basket. It includes three wooden kendama (けん玉), each with a bright red ball attached by string. Kendama challenges the player to catch the ball in the different cups or, with greater skill, land its hole upon the spike.
Also included are three colourful wooden spinning tops, or koma (独楽), decorated with cheerful concentric rings of red, green, blue and pink. Spinning tops have a particularly long history in Japan and became a familiar form of children’s entertainment and festive play.
A traditional wooden yo-yo (ヨーヨー) with painted concentric decoration completes the selection of wooden skill toys.
Perhaps the most visually striking pieces are the assortment of round menko (めんこ) cards. Printed with vivid images of samurai warriors, mounted generals and historical figures in a bold retro style, menko were traditionally used in a competitive game: one card was placed on the ground while another was forcefully thrown beside or upon it, with the aim of flipping the opponent’s card using the impact and air pressure. They were also eagerly collected for their colourful illustrations.
Together, these pieces form a wonderfully nostalgic representation of 昔遊び, celebrating the ingenuity and simplicity of traditional Japanese childhood games. The natural wear, softened paint and signs of previous play add considerable character, making the set equally appealing as a decorative folk object, teaching collection, or display of Japanese popular culture.
Size: 6 x 4 x 15cm (Kendama)
5 x 5 x 5cm (Spinning tops)
6 x 6 x 3cm (Yo-yo)
21 x 21 x 12cm (Basket)
