Skate shop brings Japan's kendama culture to Korea

Victor Ha, owner of Look Beyond, wears a kendama around his neck. Courtesy of Look Beyond

Victor Ha is many things to many people. He's the lead singer of the Korean hardcore punk band Things We Say. He's a loving father in a multicultural family. He's a cornerstone of the skateboarding community, operating the skate shop Look Beyond in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, which also sometimes promotes events.

But we have yet to write about one of his biggest passions, the kendama.

Victor Ha, owner of Look Beyond, plays with a kendama at a farm. Courtesy of Look Beyond

"Kendama is an over-100-year-old ancient skill toy from Japan," Ha told The Korea Times. "It has a handle with three cups and a ball attached with a string. Around the late 2000s, it got exposed to skiers, inline skaters and skateboarders in the Western world and it became a popular street sport."

Ha himself got into the kendama back in 2017 when he was diving deep into longboarding videos posted on YouTube. One of the videos he viewed, featuring Spanish pro longboarder Toti Bicicleta, started with Toti and his friends playing with the Japanese toy.

"My first impression was like ... 'What is that? That looks familiar. Yeah right, that Japanese traditional toy, but I didn't know you could do crazy tricks with that toy like that,'" Ha said. "So I did some research on it and found out it was not just a Japanese toy anymore. It was more of a global street sport like skateboarding and BMX. It was a whole new world opened up to me."

As the world of kendama opened up to him, he opened it up to Korea. In 2018 when he entered the market, there wasn't really a solid kendama dealer in Korea yet.

"There were a few people who were playing with kendama before me, but they were getting them from abroad," he said.

He started offering kendamas at Look Beyond, which quickly became renowned not just for skateboards but also the Japanese toys — and later also craft beer. He became the exclusive dealer of the U.S. brand Sweets Kendamas, and has hosted various events tied with the brand in Korea, including Look Ken Club, Sweets Kendamas Shop Tour and Cheonan Kendama Jam Competitions.

Victor Ha, lower left, poses with members of the Look Ken Club kendama club in front of Look Beyond in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, during a visit by kendama expert Luzumaki. Courtesy of Look Beyond

"The Korean kendama community is still small, but it is definitely growing," he said.

The kendama may be comparable to the yo-yo. It can be relaxing to play with, but users can also master great feats of skill.

"It is great to calm down your nerves and focus," Ha said. "There are endless tricks these days, so if you're a person who likes challenging yourself and achieving little goals, kendama can be a great joy. Whether you're a competitive person or like to be alone and hone your kendama skill, it works both ways. It is small, so it easily fits in your bag and pocket. You can carry it with you everywhere you go and jam. It is a big benefit that you can play kendama even in your bedroom."

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