Meet The 7-Year-Old Japanese Model Who Loves Kendama

With the majority of the kendama community existing solely within the vast reaches of social media, new ideas can often be lost to the algorithms. For that reason, I was thrilled to come across @this_is_kyte on my Instagram explore page; the account of a 7-year-old Japanese model who loves kendama , run by his fashion-forward mom, Yumi.

In an effort to learn more about this stylish slayer, I thought I’d ask Kyte and Yumi a few questions about the awesome photos they take and Kyte’s kendama journey so far.

MONIKA: How did you come up with the idea for the @this_is_kyte Instagram account?

YUMI: One day, I noticed KROM Japan was having a kendama x fashion contest on Instagram and it said “Kendamas, be Fashionable!” and I thought “This is IT!” Their concept for the contest was exactly what I thought kendamas could be; very fashionable. I also like that I can look back on the account and see the outfits my son has worn, as he grows so quickly and can only wear some outfits for one season before he grows out of them.

M: I noticed your Instagram bio says “kendama x fashion”, do you or your son have an interest in fashion? Who picks out the outfits he wears in the photos, you or him?

Y: I am more interested in fashion than my son, but he likes to take cool photos, so he helps me. I used to pick out the outfits and we would decide together which kendama to match to the outfit for that day; but recently he has specific tricks he practices, so he picks out the kendamas first and then I pick out the outfits.

Read More: 6 Outfits That Prove Kendama Can Be A Fashion Accessory

M: The photographs you take of your son are so striking, do you have a background in photography?

Y: Some photos you see on our Instagram are actually taken by professional photographers (the ones with white backgrounds or built-in sets). Kyte does modeling occasionally and he plays kendama on his breaks, so some photographers ask him to play kendama during shoots.

Other photos are taken by me. I studied photography for a short while when I was in a college in Washington state. I liked to photograph moving objects more than still objects, so I took pictures of dancers then. Now all the photos I take for Instagram are with my iPhone as that is the best way to catch instant moments.

MONIKA: How did you start playing kendama ? What has motivated you to keep playing?

KYTE: When I was in a nursery school, there was an event to learn about Japanese traditional toys like kendama , koma (top) and otedama (beanbag juggling). My teacher showed me how to play kendama then and I really liked it.

My first kendama event was Tokyo Kendama day last May and that is where I saw Shinnosuke from KENHOL perform for the first time. His performance was so wonderful! We coincidentally met him at a park few days after the event, and that’s when I asked him if he would be my Shishou (master).

Learning new tricks and going to different events with my Master Shinnosuke let me meet all the amazing kendama players and made me like kendama more and more. The feeling of accomplishment when you land a trick is very satisfying and that feeling motivates me to keep playing.

M: What is your favorite kendama and outfit combination at the moment?

K: I like these two:

KendamaUSA NOBU Pro Mod

x

Highking T-shirt

KROM POP

x

KENHOL BIG-K C/N

K: This one is my mom’s favorite:

Chienhol Kendama

x

Petit Bateau tops

M: What’s your favorite trick to do?

K: I like border balance. Recently I have been practicing Border Balance to Light House to Border Balance to Light House to Falling in.

M: Which kendama have you been practicing on the most recently?

K: I have been using a KROM pop kendama , so much that the tip is not as pointy anymore, which makes it easier for border balance; and KENHOL x ALL x Yamagata Koubou collaboration kendama for other tricks lately.

M: What was your favorite part of going to KWC this year?

K: It was my first time at KWC and the best part was being able to play kendama all day for two whole days. I could do all 10 tricks I chose and also met so many amazing players. I made so many new kendama friends from playing at night at Hiroshima station, and also on the train going to KWC.

I was also very happy to see my friend Nobu become Pro player for KendamaUSA, and I ran to buy his pro model!

M: Do you have a favorite professional kendama player? If so, who is it, and why?

K: I have so many kendama players I like, so can I pick top 2?

Shinnosuke from KENHOL. He is my master but also like my big brother. He teaches me not only tricks but also how to perform better and how to be a better person. He and his family introduced me to so many kendama players who are all fun and very nice. I like going to his house to stay overnight and play kendama all night long!

Also, Nick Gallagher from Sweets Kendamas. I was nervous to meet him because he was a champion for KWC 2018 but he was very nice and taught me how to juggle. I first met him in Tokyo while he was studying abroad in Japan, and then saw him again at KWC 2019 and it was very nice to meet his twin brother Zack then. They are so nice and kind, and very very cool kendama players!





You can follow Kyte and Yumi’s kendama journey on Instagram @this_is_kyte!