Facts about Hanetsuki

1. 05

   Hanetsuki is traditionally played by girls and women during the New Year season, and the game's imagery frequently appears in ukiyo-e woodblock prints depicting feminine leisure activities.

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2. 04

   A game similar to badminton, hanetsuki has been played in Japan since at least the Muromachi period, making it one of the country's oldest recreational pastimes.

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3. 03

   Decorative hagoita paddles used in hanetsuki became popular collector's items, often featuring elaborate portraits of kabuki actors in raised silk relief.

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4. 02

   In hanetsuki, a player who misses the shuttlecock traditionally receives a mark of ink on their face as a penalty.

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5. 01

   Traditional Japanese hanetsuki is played with a wooden paddle called a hagoita and a shuttlecock, and is associated with New Year celebrations.

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