On June 15, 2024, I participated in “World Juggling Day (WJD) in Kyoto.”
Following last year, PM Juggling had a booth, and this time, I also conducted a ball-making workshop.
The venue was “Kyoto City Nishibunka Kaikan WESITY,” different from previous years, which was exciting.
Upon arrival, I met fellow exhibitors Kizoharu from “Kizoha Koubou” and Torayoshi from “Jugtora.”
We immediately engaged in lively discussions about juggling props.
After the organizer, Mr. Miyata, arrived, we set up on the second floor.
Preparing the exhibition with fellow exhibitors was enjoyable.
Our PM Juggling booth featured “Creative Beanbags” and the newly released “SIZUKU.”
Kizoha Koubou showcased practical and innovative items, always providing great inspiration.
Torayoshi’s handmade props had a charming experimental feel, reminiscent of a caring father’s creations.
Works by Yosuke Ikeda and books related to PONTE and Fratres were also displayed.
Additionally, “NAWAZINE” by my fellow “JUGGZINE” writer, Abeshi, was available, offering deep insights into the world of ropes.
The juggling board game “Kono Stage ni wa Mamono ga Sumu” by “Kin no Tsumayouji” was available for trial, with Shogun and Kouta providing kind guidance.
The exhibition area had a relaxed atmosphere, fostering active exchanges among exhibitors.
Participants could leisurely try out props in this comfortable space.
Moving to the first floor, where the reception and practice area were located, about 20 people practiced and interacted in a spacious environment.
At 12:30, the beginner’s workshop “Let’s Try Ball Juggling!” began.
Instructor Kizoharu is dedicated to promoting juggling alongside crafting props.
The workshop was well-received, with participants enjoying the experience.
During the workshop, there was even someone who managed to learn the cascade pattern within the allotted time, which really livened up the atmosphere.
As the time approached 2:00 PM, when the ball-making workshop was scheduled to begin, I hurriedly prepared…
This time, we decided to use a buffet-style (sort of?) approach with paper trays.
The idea for this ball-making workshop came from a discussion I had with Mr. Miyata during the WJD two years ago.
While I was eager to collaborate, I initially struggled to envision a ball design that could keep participation costs low while still being enjoyable.
Because I couldn’t come up with a concrete idea, I decided to pass on holding the workshop last year.
Later, through my experience creating clear russian balls, I started to imagine how I could apply that knowledge to this project.
Finally, this year, I was able to take on the challenge.
Although clear russian balls themselves proved too challenging to commercialize, I was glad to be able to apply the insights I gained in a different form.
The method we used this time was very simple: participants filled the balls with their preferred contents and sealed them with tape at the end.
First, we had them fill the balls with plastic pellets to reach the base weight, after which they could add colorful materials however they liked.
I apologize for my poor initial explanation, but everyone quietly and diligently worked on their creations, which was a relief.
Original tools were steadily being made one after another.
For me, it was the first time witnessing such a scene, and I was thrilled watching everyone focus on crafting their tools and seeing the uniquely designed balls come to life.
This time, the concept was to allow participants to take home three balls for 500 yen. I was nervous about whether we could make it work within that budget and still ensure everyone had fun…
Seeing everyone’s happy faces reassured me.
We also set up a space for participants to photograph their completed balls along with the “WJD in Kyoto” signage.
As a parting gift, we handed out PM drawstring pouches.
I hope this added to everyone’s memories of participating in the event.
After the practice session ended, we held a social gathering from 5:30 PM.
It was a relaxed time of chatting while enjoying dinner, snacks, and some juggling.
During all the excitement, “SIZUKU” balls were stacked up together.
In the middle of the gathering, I also joined the recording of Mr. Shogun’s “Tokugawa Ryosuke’s Monogatari Radio.”
It was a pleasure to finally meet and collaborate with Mr. Kouta from “Kin no Tsumayouji.”
You can get a sense of the event’s atmosphere, so please give it a listen!
WJD events take place in various locations, but Kyoto’s charm lies in its calm, cultural ambiance.
This year, even people who had never tried juggling before participated, and it made me hope once again that scenes like this will continue to spread.
A big thank you to everyone who connected with us at the venue and to Mr. Miyata, the organizer, for reaching out to me.