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Smore Chan Chung-yin demonstrates his Kendama skills at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Photo: Nora Tam

Spike to behold: Traditional Japanese ball-trick game Kendama is catching on fast in Hong Kong

Accomplished Hong Kong players enjoy international success and aim to pass on their skills to other youngsters in city

Electronics and gadgets may have become hot playthings of recent years, but Smore Chan Chung-yin is swimming against the tide by excelling at the traditional Japanese toy Kendama.

Kendama is played by fitting a spike into a hole in a ball, or landing the ball on one of three cups. As well as a game, 26-year-old Chan – now a successful professional player – saw it as a test of his endurance, patience and perseverance.

In 2012, Chan and teammate Li Ho-cheung won the Kendama USA doubles championship, where entrants uploaded video edits of Kendama tricks of no more than 90 seconds.

The duo’s demonstration of stunning techniques along the promenade linking Kwun Tong and Tsim Sha Tsui beat 60 high-level players from North American, Europe and Japan.

His path to success was full of challenges and now he wants Hong Kong’s younger generation to take up the game and learn while playing. “I am used to failure,” Chan said when asked about the key to success. “The training mode helped me overcome difficulties in my teenage years.”

Chan took up Kendama, which literally means spike and ball, at the age of 16. Two years later he formed a team and established his own brand Pak Fuk Kendama.

The name came from Pak Fuk Children’s Playground in Fanling where Chan had spent years working out with teammates. “I hope one day each district can have a Kendama team to compete in a tournament that belongs to Hong Kong,” said Chan, who co-founded the Hong Kong Kendama Association last year.

Ever the enthusiast, Chan has found platforms to teach in schools, perform at community centres and participate in overseas competitions where he takes the opportunity to exchange views with other players.

Ally Wu Tsz-ki, 14, is one of Chan’s apprentices. Her first encounter with Kendama was in May last year when she saw instagrams of Chan posted online and became instantly fascinated. “I find it very challenging as the game is limitless and elements from other disciplines could be incorporated to form new tricks,” said Wu, who added that she would try to introduce Kendama to her friends.

Another young enthusiast, 19-year-old Lau Chun-ho, says it it more than just a game. “It needs such a lot of time to practise that I rather see it as a sport,” Lau said. “I want to become a full-time player like pros in the United States.”

“I want to play it as great as brother Smore!” a six-year-old boy told his mother excitedly during a Kendama workshop held at West Kowloon Cultural District recently.

“The positive feedback from children and parents is my momentum to carry on,” said Chan, who works as a tour guide. “Kendama is an ideal game for kids to enhance endurance, focus and hand-eye coordination.”

Chan’s team were crowned champions at the TKA National Kendama Contest which took place in Taiwan in December.

Despite success at international level, Chan’s upcoming projects have a local view, and he is eager to get Hongkongers to learn and enjoy Kendama. “I am hoping to cultivate another world champion to represent Hong Kong in international competitions,” he said.

“I hope the government can provide more resources for young people to pursue their talents and explore creativity. Local recognition is essential to maintain the spirit in Hong Kong.”

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