The Starter is the beginner kendama from Sweets Kendamas, the American brand founded by Matt “Sweets” Jorgenson. It is made for first-time players and comes in six colours; this is the red version.

• BrandSweets Kendamas
• ShapeAmped, with balance bevel on the base cup
• WoodBeech (ken and tama)
• Tama62 mm, Sticky Clear lacquer
• ColourRed
• IncludesMetal spinner bead, spare string and stickers

Design

A kendama has three parts: the ken (handle with spike), the sarado (the piece with the side cups) and the tama (the ball). The Starter uses Sweets’ Amped shape, with large cups and pronounced landing areas for stalls, the tricks in which the ball rests still on the ken. The base cup has a balance bevel, a recess that helps you rest the kendama on the tama. The 62 mm tama is printed with the name “Sweets Kendamas”, has its hole painted white and a dot on top so you can find it by eye.

What level is it for?

It is designed for people who have never played. It is all beech, a hard wood that stands up well to the knocks of your first attempts, and the tama has Sticky Clear, Sweets’ glossy clear lacquer: slightly tacky, it gives grip in balance tricks while leaving room to correct the ball’s position. The string is a little shorter than on the brand’s other models, as you need less length when starting out. The box includes stickers, one of them with playing instructions, a metal spinner bead and a spare string.