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What is Tosenkyo? Basic play and throwing tips

Tosenkyo" is a traditional Japanese game,folding fanThe beauty of throwing a fan is the main attraction of this game. Although you may have an image of it as a maiko's tatami room game, in fact, there are many schools and groups, and it is so popular that tossing contests are held. Recently, events are being held for people who are new to Utsusenkyo, where they can experience the game. Since many of the matches are played in kimonos, it would be even more fun to play in kimono. This article explains how to play Tousenkyo.

The Meaning and History of Tosenkyo

"Tosenkyo" is a traditional Japanese game played with folding fan. What exactly is this game like? Here, we’ll explain the characteristics and history of Tosenkyo.

What is Tōsenkyō?

"Tosenkyo" is a traditional Japanese game characterized by the use of folding fan. A target called a "butterfly" is placed on a base called a "pillow," and players throw folding fan at the butterfly. Points are awarded based on folding fan—the positions of the butterfly, pillow, and fan—when folding fan thrown folding fan lands.Tosenkyo is a competitive game played one-on-one (between two players). The scoring rules vary depending on the school of play.The most well-known variations are those based on the *Tale of Genji* or the *Hyakunin Isshu* poetry anthology, where each “mei” is named after a character or theme from classical Japanese literature. For example, in the *Tale of Genji*-based system, “Hanazari” is worth 1 point, while “Yūgiri” is worth 8 points.

The History of Tōsenkyō

When people hear the term “Tōsenkyō,” they may immediately think of it as a traditional parlor game played by Kyoto’s maiko. However, it actually originated as a game that spread among the common people during the Edo period. It is said that Tōsenkyō was widely enjoyed by everyone, from children to adults, back then.To begin with, Tōsenkō is believed to have originated from a Chinese game called “Tōko.” However, one drawback of Tōko was that its rules and etiquette were difficult to understand. Consequently, Tōsenkō was created to be a game that anyone could easily play.Tōsenkō became a huge craze, but it eventually came to be used for gambling, and it is said that the shogunate even issued a ban on it at one point. Nevertheless, as Western culture spread during the Meiji era, the number of people playing the game began to decline. Despite this, Tōsenkō has been preserved by numerous organizations to this day and is once again gaining popularity.

Tosenkyo

Equipment Needed for Tōsenkyō and How to Play

Here, we’ll explain the equipment you need to play Tōsenkyō and how to play the game. These days, it’s easy to purchase equipment sets online, so why not give traditional Tōsenkyō a try?

Equipment Used in Tōsenkyō

In Tōsenkyō, three items are used: a “butterfly (target),” a “pillow (base),” and folding fan (for Tōsenkyō).”

Butterfly

A “butterfly” refers to a target shaped like a ginkgo leaf. It is usually covered in cloth, and many have bells hanging from both sides by strings or similar materials. Additionally, it is common for the lower part of the shaft to have a weight made of several 5-yen coins stacked together.Please note that commercially available “butterflies” may vary in size and weight. Since this affects how easily the butterfly can be knocked down, it is a good idea to check in advance which ones are suitable for practice when participating in Tōsenkyō clubs or tournaments.

Pillow

A "makura" is the base on which the butterfly is placed, and it is typically made of paulownia wood. While sizes vary by school, the standard dimensions are a height of 17.5 cm and a top surface measuring 9 cm × 9 cm. Many feature decorative patterns on the sides, so it’s a good idea to choose a design you like.Some commercially available stands appear to be slightly taller than the standard. As with selecting a butterfly, we recommend checking that the size is suitable for practice.

folding fan

folding fan used in Tōsenkyō differ from ordinary folding fan used for cooling off, as they are subject to specific standards. The reason for this is to make folding fan easier to throw.folding fan designed specifically for Tōsenkyō are made lighter by using fewer ribs and making them thinner. Another major difference is that, since folding fan are thrown repeatedly in Tōsenkyō and are therefore prone to tearing or damage, folding fan specialized folding fan are considered consumables. If you plan to gather the equipment for Tōsenkyō, we recommend that you obtain folding fan specialized folding fan.

How to Play Tōsenkyō

To play Tōsenkyō, first place a pillow in the center between the two players and set a butterfly—which serves as the target—on top of it. From this position, the players take turns throwing folding fan at the target, and the player with the highest total score based on the inscriptions wins.

Among the scoring patterns, there are not only those that earn points but also those that result in zero points or, conversely, those that result in a point deduction. For example, “Kotsuri”—where folding fan hits the cushion—results in a deduction of one point.

The number of throws folding fan and the scoring system vary by school. The types of patterns and their corresponding point values can be found in the official scoring charts published by each school; these charts are also sometimes included with commercially available Tōsenkyō sets.

How to Hold and Throw folding fan in Tōsenkyō

In the game of Tōsenkyō, there are specific techniques for holding and throwing folding fan to hit the target. Since it’s handled differently from a regular folding fan, keep the following points in mind when playing.

How to Hold folding fan in Tōsenkyō

When holding folding fan in Tōsenkyō, use your right hand. Support the base folding fan open folding fan from below with your thumb, and wrap your remaining four fingers around it from above, keeping them together. When throwing folding fan, hold it with your thumb side facing down as described, positioning the fan surface so that it is horizontal.

How to Throw folding fan in Tōsenkyō

When throwing folding fan in Tōsenkyō, sit in the seiza position, hold folding fan horizontally, and then throw it by pushing it forward. If you pull it back slightly toward you to build momentum, it will fly farther.Keep in mind that there are specific rules regarding how to throw folding fan in Tosenkyo, so be sure to follow them. For example, when throwing folding fan, you must not lift your hips while in the seiza position. The key is to keep your back straight and throw the fan while leaning your upper body toward the target.

Let's try playing "Tōsenkyō" with folding fan!

Tosenkyo is a traditional Japanese game played with folding fan. There’s a unique charm in watching the folding fan float gently through the air and knock over a bell-adorned target. While it may be strongly associated with traditional parlor games, Tosenkyo is once again gaining attention these days, particularly among those interested in traditional culture.The rules are simple and easy to understand, so why not give Tosenkyo a try?

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