Kendama has grown from a niche skill toy into a worldwide movement powered not by products alone, but by people gathering together. Across continents, annual kendama events serve as meeting points where players connect, travel, compete, and build lifelong friendships.
While competition plays an exciting role, the true purpose of kendama events goes far deeper. These gatherings strengthen local scenes, introduce new players to the culture, and allow communities to share creativity across borders.
Below is a global guide to the annual kendama events actively shaping and growing modern kendama culture today.
Kendama is from Japan, and has been around since 1919. The origins and roots of kendama all come from Japan. It wan't until 2006 that kendama started to blossom outside of Japan and grow to be the competitive sport it is today
Kendama World Cup (KWC)
📍 Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Japan
📅 Founded: 2014
👥 1,000+ competitors annually
Although hosted in the birthplace of kendama in Japan, KWC represents the global competitive pinnacle for players worldwide. Hosted in Hatsukaichi, kendama’s historical home, the event brings together professionals, amateurs, and first-time competitors in one of the largest gatherings in kendama history each year.
Instagram: @kendamaworldcup
North America has long been one of the strongest driving forces behind modern kendama progression and community organization. Many foundational events that helped establish competitive kendama still operate today.
Battle at the Border (BATB)
📍 Nashville, Tennessee, USA
📅 Founded: 2012
👥 500+ attendees
The longest-running annual competition in modern kendama. BATB helped define competitive kendama in North America. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, massive stage, and draw of pro players at the highest level, BATB remains a cornerstone event for American players. While the Pro Open division is the finale of the event, Battle also awards the winner of Freestyle with an equal cash prize pay-out.
Instagram: @batbkendama
North American Kendama Open (NAKO)
📍 Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
📅 Founded: 2013
👥 ~500 attendees
NAKO blends competition with community gathering, drawing players from across the continent for a weekend centered around connection, creativity, and progression. NAKO established themselves as one of the largest events early on by hosting the event in large venues such as the rotunda at the the Mall of America. Since then, the event has shifted their focus from a highly competitive environment to one that has more conducive of learning, teaching, and community building. NAKO weekend feels like a kendama convention, where players gather to spend time together and enjoy kendama.
Instagram: @nakendamaopen
These events play a critical role in sustaining local scenes while welcoming traveling players:
Las Vegas Kendama Open — Las Vegas, Nevada (@lasvegaskendamaopen)
Dama at the Pond — Greensburg, Indiana (@indiana_lacers)
Dama in the D — Wyandotte, Michigan (@dama_in_the_d)
3OH3 Kendama Open — Denver, Colorado (@3oh3ko)
Tower Cup — Chicago, Illinois (@towercup)
ATLO — Atlanta, Georgia (@gakendamaplayers)
Blue Ridge Battle — Asheville, North Carolina (@blueridgebattle.avl)
Fair Games — Richmond, Virginia (@fairgamescomp)
NYC Winter Kendama Cup — Brooklyn, New York (@nyckendamacup)
Van Jam — Vancouver, Canada (@vanjamjendama)
Crew Dama — Ontario, Canada (@crewdamaofficial)
Each of these gatherings emphasizes regional growth while giving players opportunities to experience new cities through kendama.
Asia remains both the historical and progressive heart of kendama culture, hosting some of the most technically advanced and culturally significant events in the world. In addition to the Kendama World Cup held in Japan, the below events also play a huge role in the growth of kendama.
Chimera Freestyle Kendama World Cup (CFKWC)
📍 Okayama, Japan
A major international freestyle competition combining action sports, performance culture, and kendama innovation. CFKWC continues pushing creative boundaries within competitive kendama.
Instagram: @cfkwc
Nagai Cup — Nagai, Yamagata, Japan (@kendamanagaicup)
Battle at the Delta — Tokyo, Japan (@batd.kendama)
Taiwan Kendama Open — Kaohsiung, Taiwan (@twkendamaopen)
China Kendama Open — Shenzhen, China (@chinakendamaopen)
Hong Kong Kendama Open — Hong Kong (@hkkendamaopen)
Kunoichi — Itami, Hyogo, Japan (@kunoichi_kendama)
Kunoichi is a women-focused kendama event created to highlight and elevate girls and women in the sport while remaining welcoming to all attendees.
These events continue expanding kendama throughout Asia, introducing thousands of new players annually.
Europe’s kendama scene is known for strong community organization, creative freestyle influence, and international collaboration.
European Kendama Championship (EKC)
📍 Utrecht, Netherlands
📅 Founded: 2019
👥 500+ attendees
Originally founded by Krom Kendama and hosted in Copenhagen, Denmark, EKC is now organized by Teodore Fiorina as of 2022. EKC gathers the world's strongest players while maintaining an inclusive action packed weekend for European players to gather. The event venue is a club-style atmosphere centered on community connection and displaying Freestyle kendama at the highest level. Additionally, the event organizes jam days the two days prior and the two days after the event, giving travelers a chance to experience the culture of the cities of Utrecht, Leiden, and Amsterdam.
Instagram: @eukendamachamp
Nordic Kendama Cup — Copenhagen, Denmark (@nordickendamacup)
Vienna Kendama Open — Vienna, Austria (@viennakendamaopen)
ESKO (Spain Kendama Open) — Tarragona, Spain (@esko_espanakendamaopen)
Ken Fest — Hannover, Germany (@kenfest_hannover)
Dama Rama — Hamburg, Germany (@damarama_insta)
European events are especially known for blending travel, culture, and kendama into immersive weekend experiences.
📍 Sydney, Australia (@sydneykendamacup)
Australia’s flagship kendama gathering continues strengthening the Oceania scene while connecting players from Asia and North America through international travel and competition.
Every kendama event, large or small, serves the same purpose:
Building friendships
Supporting local communities
Encouraging skill progression
Creating shared experiences through travel
Sustaining long-term growth of the sport
Competition may bring players together, but community keeps them coming back.
For many players, attending a kendama event becomes the moment when kendama transforms from a hobby into a lifelong passion.
The best way to experience kendama culture is simple:
✅ Attend an event
✅ Meet new players
✅ Travel through kendama
✅ Support local scenes
Each event maintains an active Instagram page where schedules, registration, and announcements are shared throughout the year. Following these organizers is the easiest way to stay connected to the global kendama community.
Whether you are a beginner attending your first jam or an experienced competitor traveling internationally, kendama events offer something far greater than competition — they offer belonging.
