おはじき - Ohajiki (Flattened marbles)

Ohajiki refers to small discs made of china, glass, plastic, and other such materials. The discs look like flattened marbles. Ohajiki also refers a game played by flipping the discs, which resembles tiddlywinks. This game became very popular as an indoor game for girls during the Edo period (from 1603 to 1867).

おはじきは陶器・ガラス・プラスチックなどの小さな円盤で、これを指先ではじき当てて取り合いをする遊びを指すこともあります。この遊びは、女児が屋内でする遊びとして江戸時代(1603〜1867年)に大変流行しました。

Two players or more are required for this game. First the players sit down on the floor and scatter many of the discs in front of themselves. Then the first player flips one of her discs and tries to hit another player’s disc. The player can only touch the disc she is flipping. If the player successfully hits one of the other players’ discs she can keep it, but if she hits more than one disc she does not get to keep any of them. If she is successful she can go again, but if she is not the next player goes. The player who gets the most discs wins.

この遊びは二人以上で行います。遊びに加わる者は床に座り、たくさんのおはじき玉を自分の前にばらまきます。一人が他の一人の玉をねらって自分のおはじきをはじきます。この時、はじいた玉が二つ以上の玉に当たらないようにします。また、はじこうとしている玉以外の玉に手や指が触れないようにします。はじいた玉がうまく当たれば、当たった玉は自分のものになります。うまく当たらなければ他の者に交替します。一番多く玉を取った者が勝ちです。