The Spark is one of the ken shapes from Active Kendama, a brand devoted to design-led kendamas with an international team of players. This version features the Vinewhip design, one of the brand’s most sought-after tama finishes, which it first introduced on its Elite shape and later brought to the Spark.

• BrandActive Kendama
• ShapeSpark, with hollow core
• WoodMaple ken and beech tama
• DesignVinewhip

Design

Active Kendama’s Spark shape has noticeably larger cups and landing areas than its Elite shape, and a wider ken that narrows where the spike meets the sarado (the piece with the side cups), which makes it easier to grip during spins. Its most distinctive feature is the hollow core: the balance hole in the base cup is drilled larger and capped at the surface, leaving an empty space inside. This makes the base cup lighter, which helps with lunar tricks, without losing usable surface for kenflips, taps and slingers.

Materials and finish

The ken is made of maple, a dense and stable wood, and the tama (the ball) of beech, the most common combination in mid- and high-end kendamas. The Vinewhip design paints the tama in two shades of teal with a stripe that serves as a visual reference for following its spin (tracking).