Kemari (蹴鞠) is an athletic game that was popular during the Heian (794–1185) and Kamakura (1185–1333) periods of Japan. It resembles a game of keepie uppie or hacky sack.

Kemari is a ball game that is said to have come from China to Japan during the Yamato period approximately 1,400 years ago. There are no winners or losers in this game, the objective of the …

Kemari is a highly ritualised game indigenous to Japan that has been played for over a millennium. It is one of just two ancient ball games, along with cuju from China, that we know were played with the feet.

Kemari was a Japanese keep-up game played primarily during the Middle Ages. In this game, players positioned in a dirt court took turns kicking a light, delicate ball into the air, attempting to keep it from …

Jan 15, 2026 · Kemari is a traditional Japanese game that originated in Japan over one thousand years ago, during the era of elegant court life. The name means ‘kicking ball,’ and it reflects the spirit of …

Jan 5, 2026 · The Japanese ball game kemari has a long tradition stretching back more than 1,000 years. Originally enjoyed by court nobles, today the custom is kept alive through seasonal events at …

Kemari continued to be popular with the masses until the end of the 16th century. It became more obscure in the Edo period, though it didn’t die out altogether - although that almost happened at the …

The object of Kemari is to keep one ball in the air, with all players cooperating to do so. Players may use any body part with the exception of arms and hands – their head, feet, knees, back, and depending …

Oct 17, 2025 · Kemari is an ancient ball game that has its origins in Japan, and has some similarities to the modern sport known as association football (more commonly known as football in the UK or …

Kemari is one of the athletic sports that became popular during the Heian period.