Long before Alex Harris ever picked up a kendama, his grandmother was selling them. She was first-generation Japanese-American, and her small gift shop in Southwest Ohio stocked kendamas imported from Japan, back when they were nearly impossible to find in the United States.
Alex didn't know that story would become his story. He just knew that one afternoon at the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., watching a kendama table with his daughter, something clicked. He bought her a mini one. She was too young for it, and honestly, he was the one who couldn't put it down.
A $10 Kendama USA Natty Beach later, the rabbit hole opened. Today Alex, known as @ajh_kendama, owns more than 100 ken shapes and over 30 paint finishes and hosts online contests that pull in players from around the world. When we interviewed him, he'd just joined the Ohana Kendama team. He's also the guy behind Denver's kendama scene, and the most generous collector you're likely to meet.
What Is Kendama, Anyway?
If you've never held one, a kendama looks deceptively simple. It's a wooden handle (the ken) with a cup on each end and a spike on top. A ball (the tama) hangs from a string. The goal: catch the ball in the cups or land it on the spike.
That's it. That's the whole game.
But simple doesn't mean easy. Kendama's roots in Japan go back centuries, and the modern competitive form took shape in the early 1900s. Today there are professional players, international competitions, and a thriving global community sharing tricks online. The basics are approachable. Mastery is a bottomless well, which is exactly the point.
A Collector's Eye
Alex didn't just stumble into kendama. He fell in deep, and then a surprise bonus at work gave him permission to fall deeper. He bought nicer kendamas. He got hooked on buying and playing. He hasn't really stopped since.
What keeps a collector hooked is variation. Because it's a wooden toy, everything matters: the shape of the ken, the wood, the splices, the paint. New shapes and finishes come out almost every week, and each one can genuinely change how you play. Alex describes it like a video game where new gear unlocks new abilities. A slightly more forgiving shape lets you learn a stall trick, and once the muscle memory is there, you can land it on anything.
Some of his kendamas are players. Some are shelf pieces: beautiful, rare, historic. But as he puts it, he doesn't own anything he won't at least hop around on the cups to try. Every piece in the collection earns its place by being played.
The Generosity Rule
Here's what makes Alex different from the average collector. Ask him about the kendama community and he won't start with rare finds or market values. He'll start with giving things away.
"If someone shows interest, I can just give them a kendama." He's done it more times than he can count, and he's not alone. Handing a curious beginner their first kendama, no strings attached, is practically a community tradition. It spreads the joy, and it works: today's curious beginner is tomorrow's obsessed player.
That generosity extends to knowledge too. Alex is a regular in the online kendama communities where players trade history, buying advice, and encouragement. New players get welcomed, not hazed. Questions get answered. The vibe is closer to a mentorship circle than a marketplace.
Denver's Scene
Alex is also behind @denverkendamaclub, Denver's home for kendama players of every level. If you're local and curious, that's your front door. Look the club up on Instagram for meetup details and come watch what a room full of people chasing the same spike looks like.
You don't need to be good. You just need to show up. Someone will hand you a kendama.
Why Kendama Belongs on the Perch
GamePerch exists to gather people around games worth playing. Kendama qualifies, but not for the reason you might think.
It's not a table game. You won't play it during game night. But it embodies everything we believe about play: that the best games teach you something, that mastery is satisfying, and that community makes everything better.
Kendama asks for something rare: your full attention. It rewards practice without punishing failure. A missed catch isn't losing. It's information. Adjust. Try again. The ball doesn't judge. It just misses, the same way for everyone.
For parents, it's gloriously screen-free. For kids, it's cool enough to stick with. For anyone, it's a reminder that your hands can learn things your brain hasn't figured out yet.
Start Your Kendama Journey
You don't need a hundred ken shapes to start. You need one kendama, a little space, and the willingness to miss a lot before you land your first trick.
Look for a beginner-friendly kendama with a slightly tacky tama paint (it makes those first catches achievable) and a durable wood ken. Then find your people. If you're in Denver, the club welcomes newcomers. If you're not, the online kendama community is generous with tutorials and encouragement.
Land your first spike and you'll get it. Everyone does.
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Questions, answered.
What is kendama?
Kendama is a traditional Japanese skill toy: a wooden handle (ken) with cups and a spike, connected by a string to a ball (tama). The objective is to catch the ball in the cups or land it on the spike, progressing through increasingly difficult tricks.
How old is kendama?
Kendama's roots in Japan go back centuries, and similar cup-and-ball games appear in cultures around the world. The modern competitive form took shape in Japan in the early 1900s.
Is kendama hard to learn?
The basics are approachable: most people can start catching the ball in the big cup with a little practice. Mastery is another story. Advanced tricks take months or years, which is exactly why players stick with it.
What ages play kendama?
Older kids, teens, and adults. It's genuinely intergenerational: simple enough for a curious kid to try, deep enough to keep adults hooked for years.
What should I look for in a beginner kendama?
A slightly tacky or "sticky" tama paint for easier catches, a durable wood ken, and a comfortable weight. Avoid ultra-cheap models with slick paint: they make learning frustrating.
Is there a kendama community in Denver?
Yes. The Denver Kendama Club welcomes players of all levels. Follow @denverkendamaclub on Instagram for meetup details.
Who is Alex Harris?
Alex Harris, known as @ajh_kendama, is a Denver kendama player and collector who was on the Ohana Kendama team at the time of the interview. He got his start with a $10 kendama at a cherry blossom festival and has owned more than 100 ken shapes. He's known in the community for his generosity: regularly giving kendamas to curious beginners.
Follow Alex at @ajh_kendama and the Denver Kendama Club at @denverkendamaclub.
