Kendama has always been more than just a wooden toy. For players around the world, it represents creativity, community, travel, and personal expression. At Sol Kendamas, we believe the most impactful kendamas are the ones that carry stories. Stories about the people who designed them, the cultures they came from, and the moments in time they represent.
This guide highlights kendamas from Sol Kendamas that define the culture, not only through performance and design, but through the real-world connections they’ve created. Whether you’re new to kendama or searching for “Sol Kendamas” to understand what makes our brand different, these are the models that show what kendama can be.
The Nowa Mod stands as a historic release for Sol Kendamas. It is our first-ever female pro model, created for Nowa, the 2023 Kendama World Cup Female Champion. Nowa joined Sol Kendamas in August of 2021, and her influence on the scene, especially for younger and female players, cannot be overstated.
Designed by Patrick-san, an artist from Osaka, Japan and former member of the KEN-HOL team alongside Nowa, this kendama blends elite performance with meaningful visual identity. Patrick-san also designed the Nowa Champ Mod, because Nowa loves his art style, and appreciates the art he has created over the years.
The Nowa Mod released in person at Kendama World Cup 2025, then dropped online where it sold out the same day. Its demand reflects how strongly players connect with kendamas that represent progression and inclusivity. A restock is planned for late summer 2026.
The Rudny Mod marks another milestone: it is the first European pro model for Sol Kendamas and the first-ever pro model for a Polish kendama player. Mateusz Rudny, known in the kendama community as “Rudny”, has been part of Sol for years, and the name stuck naturally when his Instagram handle (@rudnymateusz) led many of us to assume it was his first name.
Released in person at EKC 2025 in Utrecht, Netherlands, this kendama quickly became a standout across Europe. The design came from Rudny's inspiration, and was created by Grant MacDonald, a Canadian graphic designer whose clean, modern style translated perfectly to kendama. Grant also the designed the Motty Pro Model.
The Rudny Mod was a hit both at the event and online, selling out quickly and reinforcing Sol’s growing international presence. A restock is planned for April 2026.
The Denkiyu Collab is one of the most culturally unique kendamas Sol has ever released. Denkiyu is a Japanese sento (public bathhouse), and the idea for this collaboration came to Ayumu Haitani while relaxing in the hot tub, looking up at the ceiling.
Denkiyu later gained international recognition after being featured in the film Perfect Days, which received an Oscar nomination in 2024. Working directly with Denkiyu, Ayumu, and Sol Kendamas, this collaboration brought everyday Japanese culture into the kendama world in a way that felt authentic and respectful.
This release shows how kendama can connect deeply with place, routine, and lived experience, not just tricks.
The Sol Kendamas x Su Lab collaborations are some of the most sought-after kendamas in the game, especially the tamas. Based in Saitama, Japan, Su Lab was relatively unknown in the USA before our first collaboration together in 2019.
Since then, Su Lab’s Friction Clear paint has become one of the most respected matte paints in kendama, known for being smooth, grippy, and stable, while still allowing for controlled adjustments without lighthouse tipping off.
Sol and Su Lab have produced 10 different collab kendamas together, all using the same core design across different colorways and released on multiple shapes including the 1UP, 2UP, and Super Mega Banger Lacer. Every setup featured maple kens and maple tamas, with Su Lab producing the tamas and Sol producing the kens. Each kendama was weight-matched and strung by hand by both brands.
These releases sell out almost instantly and represent the massive logistical effort behind international collaboration across Japan, China, and the USA all playing a role in bringing one kendama to life.
The KD Legend Mod is a decade in the making. This kendama is an ode to Kevin DeSoto’s first Sol Vibe design from 2017. The ken introduces the KD Legend Mod Shape, inspired by the 2UP shape with a larger sarado, refined handlestall, and a slightly updated ring stall.
The KD Legend Model kendama is made entirely from maple wood. The 62mm maple tama is painted in Japan at the Legaxis factory using a new matte clear called EZPZ Clear. This paint is also available on Sol Shibui Tamas.
This design is a remake of the Slice of Paradise kendama Kevin originally designed for the first Sol Vibe lineup, now elevated with a tracking dot, natty ring around the bevel, metallic matte paint, and a new original shape designed by Kevin DeSoto himself.
Kevin (@kencastlekd) joined the Sol Kendamas pro team in early 2016, and the KD Legend Mod marks him as the second member of the Sol Kendamas Legend Team.
The MuuMuu Collab remains one of the most culturally impactful collaborations Sol Kendamas has ever done.
MuuMuu Coffee is a small coffee shop in Tokyo known for pour-over coffee, lattes, and a melted chocolate drink. It is also a space for conversation, learning languages, making friends, playing kendama, and building community.
Ayumu Haitani is a kendama teacher in Tokyo with a deeply supportive local community. This collaboration introduced Sol to new cultural opportunities, eventually leading to the Denkiyu Collab and the Omurice Collab Kendama.
Sol later released a monochrome version and an 11-year anniversary kendama, both using the same core pattern with natural wood laminations. This concept was created by Ayumu while hand-turning his own kendama, and the production process was guided alongside Chad Covington.
The Omurice Collab Kendama is a collaboration between Omurice chef Yutaka-san in Japan and Sol Kendamas in the USA.
This kendama was the first of its kind. Yutaka-san loved the MuuMuu Collab kendama and asked if a collaboration could be made together. Initially, only 50 kendamas were produced and sold Japan-only.
After Sol shared a photo on Instagram, interest poured in from around the world. Sol went on to restock the Omurice Kendama three additional times, and every single drop sold out. Another restock is planned for April or May of 2026.
Omurice is a modern Japanese dish, typically consisting of an omelette over rice, often topped with ketchup or beef stew, a perfect metaphor for blending tradition and modern creativity.
Sol Kendamas was featured on the YouTube series “Tokyo! Episode 7, Season 4 of The Show by Round Two,” filmed in Tokyo in the summer of 2018.
This collaboration connected kendama with vintage fashion, streetwear, and large clothing brands. Sol and Round Two produced three pieces of clothing, available on the Round Two website and Nordstrom.
Sol has produced four different Round Two collab kendamas:
A design based on Round Two’s logo and store locations
Orange Spectraply Sol x Round Two collab alongside OKendama (Latvia) — featuring hand-dyed, laminated birch kens CNC-turned by OKendama, with tamas painted in-house in Latvia
A pro model for Alex Mitchell, supported by Round Two
Round Two was founded by Sean Wotherspoon, Chris, and Luke. Sean has collaborated with brands including Nike, Adidas, Porsche, GAP, Hot Wheels, Disney, Pokémon, Teva, BAPE, Asics, Prince, Vespa, Guess, Samsung, Lacoste, and Zellerfeld.
All kendamas were produced by Sol Kendamas, and all apparel was produced by Round Two.
These kendamas represent moments, relationships, and ideas that shaped the modern kendama landscape. They show how far kendama can reach; from coffee shops and bathhouses to fashion, film, and international travel.
When people search “Sol Kendamas,” this is what we want them to discover: not just products, but a culture built through intention, collaboration, and community.
