What Is Mari? The Role of the Japanese Ball in Traditional Culture
Mari is a centuries-old ball culture that has been beloved in Japan since ancient times, woven into everything from imperial court pastimes to everyday life among ordinary people.
Although the word "mari" sounds simple, the kemari (a courtly kicking game) and the temari (handcrafted decorative balls that grew out of daily life) differ greatly in both appearance and how they are enjoyed.
For travelers, it is easier to approach mari not as a competitive sport, but as a doorway into Japanese aesthetics and the country's gift-giving traditions.
By visiting the regions where mari culture remains alive — Kyoto, Nara, Nagano, and Shimane — you can sense the beauty and prayers that the Japanese have long entrusted to the simple form of a sphere.
Temari vs. Kemari: Understanding the Difference Makes Mari More Meaningful
Temari: Decorative Handballs Rooted in Everyday Japanese Life
Temari are traditional handcrafted balls made with paper, rice husks, and cotton thread, decorated with motifs such as flowers, stars, birds, and waves.
Their roots are said to trace back to China, and in Japan they first became popular as a courtly pastime in the Nara and Heian periods, later developing distinct materials and techniques in regions across the country.
From the mid-Edo period onward, the modern style emerged, in which a core was wound with materials like zenmai (royal fern) cotton and then stitched over with beautiful threads in geometric patterns. Temari spread nationwide as a New Year's plaything for young girls.
Today, temari are enjoyed not only as toys for children but also as gifts and interior decorations.
Kemari: An Elegant Game Connected to Imperial Court Culture
Kemari, on the other hand, is known as a game in which players kick a ball into the air and try to keep it from touching the ground. It is not about winning or losing, but rather a refined practice of returning the ball in a way that is easy for the next player to receive.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the ball used in kemari is made of deerskin, measures about 20 centimeters in diameter, and weighs only around 120 grams. Eight players form a circle and kick the ball back and forth while calling out "ari," "ya," and "ou."
Said to have arrived from China about 1,400 years ago, kemari flourished in the imperial court from the mid-Heian period and spread to the samurai class during the Kamakura period.
Although it died out for a time after the Meiji Restoration, the Kemari Preservation Society was established in 1907 (Meiji 40) thanks to a financial gift from Emperor Meiji, and the game is still performed today during special openings of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and other venues.
The fact that detailed records of kemari traditions have been passed down shows that it has been preserved not as a mere game, but as a cultural practice complete with etiquette and lore.
Why Temari Patterns and Colors Are So Popular Souvenirs in Japan
Japanese Aesthetics Captured Inside a Small Sphere
The charm of temari lies in how delicate symmetry and a sense of the seasons can be expressed within a small round form.
The geometric patterns built up by layered threads have a refined beauty, and motifs such as chrysanthemums, cherry blossoms, hemp leaves, waves, and snowflakes reflect Japan's view of nature and decorative sensibility.
Vivid color combinations of red, yellow, and purple are also said to carry talismanic meaning, and historically temari were used as bridal trousseau items and gifts to wish for a child's healthy growth.
While they look beautiful in photos, viewing them up close brings out the layered threads and intricate handiwork even more clearly.
Why Temari Make Such a Popular Japanese Souvenir
In recent travel, temari are increasingly encountered as "decorative pieces" rather than "toys to play with."
Matsumoto temari, passed down in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, is a traditional craft said to have been started about 200 years ago by women of samurai families serving the Matsumoto domain. Today they are introduced as interior decorations and gifts using threads dyed with plants from the Shinshū region.
Light and distinctly Japanese in appearance, temari are easy to display in your home after returning from your trip, making them an ideal choice for travelers looking for a craft souvenir.
Prices range from a few thousand yen for mini sizes to tens of thousands of yen for full-scale pieces, so there are options to fit any travel budget.
Three Ways to Enjoy the Mari on Your Trip: See, Buy, and Make
Start by Seeing Mari at Exhibitions and Craft Shops
The appeal of mari lies in both its dazzling impression from afar and its precise craftsmanship up close.
Museums, craft shops, and regional traditional crafts sections make it easy to compare differences in patterns and regional styles, deepening your understanding of Japanese culture.
For those interested in Kyoto's courtly culture, special openings of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Kemari Hajime ceremony at Shimogamo Shrine (held every January 4) are excellent options. For those drawn to temari as a craft, craft shops in Matsumoto City and the Matsue Washi Temari Workshop in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture (open 9:30–16:00, closed Tuesdays and Thursdays) are recommended.
With temari, simply observing the differences in color combinations is enjoyable in itself.
Temari-Making Workshops Are the Easiest Hands-On Experience
For travelers, temari-making workshops are the most accessible hands-on experience.
Matsue washi temari, passed down in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, is a unique style of temari in which Izumo folk paper is pasted around the core, then stitched with embroidery thread and finished with torn-paper collage. It is said to have been started by ladies-in-waiting at the Matsue domain palace during the Edo period.
At venues such as Teshigoto Shokai Suguri in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, you can join a hands-on lesson to complete an eight-petal chrysanthemum temari in about 120 minutes (4,400 yen). Even beginners can take part with ease.
Rather than just admiring finished works, choosing your own colors and patterns makes it easier to remember mari not just as "decoration" but as living "culture."
Tips for Viewing and Choosing Mari
Temari Become More Fascinating When You Understand the Meaning of the Patterns
When you find a piece that catches your eye, start by looking at the color combinations, the repetition of patterns, and the texture of the materials.
Where descriptions are provided, paying attention to the regional name (such as Matsumoto temari, Matsue washi temari, or Kaga temari), the materials used (cotton thread, silk thread, or washi paper), and the production method makes it easier to compare different works.
Even within the same round form, the impression can vary widely between something cute and charming and something more refined as a fine craft.
Kemari Is Easier to Understand When Seen at Demonstrations or Festivals
Kemari is best appreciated not just by looking at the equipment, but by experiencing demonstrations or ceremonial contexts, where the beauty of the movements and the connection to imperial court culture become clearer.
At Kyoto's Shimogamo Shrine (Kemari Hajime on January 4), Shiramine Jingū Shrine, and Tanzan Shrine in Nara (Kemari Festival held annually on April 29 and November 3), you can watch ritual kemari performed by costumed members of the preservation society.
If you encounter related exhibits or shrine events on your travels, pay attention not only to the equipment, but also to the costumes (mari-suikan robes and kuzu-bakama trousers), the distinctive calls, and the players' footwork.
You will see how Japanese traditional culture has continued by blurring the lines between play, etiquette, and aesthetic appreciation.
Practical Information and Access Tips for Enjoying Mari
Estimated Access to Major Spots
To experience Matsumoto temari, it takes about 20 minutes on foot from JR Matsumoto Station to the area around Matsumoto Castle, making it easy to combine with a half-day stroll through the castle town.
The Matsue Washi Temari Workshop is about 11 minutes by taxi from JR Matsue Station, or about 6 minutes on foot from the nearest Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Museum bus stop, making it convenient to combine with sightseeing at Matsue Castle and the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum.
Kyoto's Shimogamo Shrine can be reached from JR Kyoto Station via city bus routes 4 and 205 to the Shimogamo Jinja-mae bus stop, while Nara's Tanzan Shrine is about 25 minutes by bus from JR/Kintetsu Sakurai Station.
Useful Tips for International Travelers
Major tourist information centers and craft shops often provide simple English pamphlets, and reservations for hands-on experiences usually go smoothly when booked online or by phone at least one day in advance.
Temari are small and lightweight, making them easy to bring back as carry-on luggage, and choosing those that come in a paulownia wood box or fabric pouch helps keep them well preserved over time.
Kemari ritual events may be canceled or shifted in venue or time during bad weather, so it is best to check each shrine's official information before visiting.
Conclusion: Discovering Japanese Culture Through the Mari
Mari is far more than a simple round object.
Temari embody the beauty of handwork and the individuality of each region, while kemari carries 1,400 years of history and the elegant etiquette of the imperial court.
When you come across a mari on your travels, instead of dismissing it as just a charming craft, try to imagine the play, the gifts, the seasonal sensibility, and the etiquette behind it. Doing so will give you a much deeper view of Japanese culture.
