Kendama Wood Types
The wood decides how a kendama feels: its weight, how fast it breaks in, how it sounds on a spike and how long the paint and the cups last. Each wood below has its own page with the facts and every tracked kendama made from it, each linking to the store that sells it.
Beech
164 in stock / 1549- Janka
- 1300
- Weight
- medium
- Break-in
- fast
- Best for
- tama
The #1 choice for tamas. JKA standard wood. Breaks in quickly for great stall development.
Maple
80 in stock / 639- Janka
- 1450
- Weight
- heavy
- Break-in
- slow
- Best for
- ken
King of kendama woods. Best for kens - extremely durable and stays crispy for hard spikes.
Ash
70 in stock / 536- Janka
- 1320
- Weight
- heavy
- Break-in
- medium
- Best for
- either
Heavy and hard with a sharp, satisfying sound when landing tricks.
Purpleheart
5 in stock / 218- Janka
- 1860
- Weight
- very heavy
- Break-in
- slow
- Best for
- ken
One of the hardest and most durable exotic woods. Deep satisfying 'clunk' sound.
Bamboo
14 in stock / 171- Janka
- 1380
- Weight
- medium
- Break-in
- medium
- Best for
- either
Sustainable choice with good durability. Harder than beech, more affordable than maple.
Cherry
25 in stock / 152- Janka
- 950
- Weight
- light
- Break-in
- fast
- Best for
- either
Light weight makes it easy to juggle and balance. Great for flow tricks.
Rosewood
1 in stock / 67- Janka
- 1780
- Weight
- heavy
- Break-in
- slow
- Best for
- ken
Premium exotic with satisfying weight and a distinctive percussive sound.
Zebrano
1 in stock / 42- Janka
- 1575
- Weight
- medium
- Break-in
- fast
- Best for
- tama
Not as dense as other exotics. Dents and breaks in nicely for stall tricks.
Walnut
2 in stock / 35- Janka
- 1010
- Weight
- medium
- Break-in
- medium
- Best for
- either
Beautiful dark exotic look. Hardness and color vary between walnut species.
Rubberwood
4 in stock / 33- Janka
- 980
- Weight
- light
- Break-in
- fast
- Best for
- either
Lighter and softer, often paired with denser woods for contrast.