Racket hagoita

A hagoita 羽子板 racket, for the Japanese badminton-like game hanetsuki 羽根突き, which is played without a net using a ball made of colourful bird feathers and the black seeds of the mukuroji 黒い玉 tree, from the Sapindales family. The game is especially popular with girls at New Year, as it is supposed to protect against misfortune. Beautifully decorated rackets have ornamental and collector value. They are often presented as a gift at the birth of a girl.

On this wooden racket, cloth and paper objects representing various children’s games are pasted (circular from left to right): a ball made of cloth temari 手毬; a bell; a headdress eboshi 烏帽子 from the popular game Sanbasō 三番叟, played for good luck and joy; a string toy in the shape of a cart with a sea bream tai 鯛, symbolising good luck; a baby’s rattle garagara がらがら; a pink-painted squash pumpkin hyōtan (瓢箪), which was formerly used for liquid storage; a stick with a Japanese flag. The background is white and pink Japanese cherry tree sakura 桜 flowers. (MV)