NOVEMBER 15-16-17

Check back here and @nakendamaopen for more info.

Want to sponsor or have questions? Email events@sweetskendamas.com

NAKO IS BACK!

The 2024 North American Kendama Open will be live and in-person right in our hometown of Minneaplois, MN. After a year of virtual competition we are excited to see everyone for a 3-day weekend full of kendama excitement!

Check-In, competition, vending, & workshops all start Friday morning so if you're traveling please be prepared for a full day of events on the 15th.
Sweets Kendamas HQ will not be open to the public on Thursday November 14th but we will have a pre-NAKO jam Thursday night at the Crowne Plaza.
If you would like to see Sweets HQ we will be open Monday for you to stop by on your way to the airport.

Player Registration, Spectator Pass, and Hotel information and costs available below.

Find more FAQ below and reach out to cs@sweetskendamas.com if you have any questions!

TICKETS TO NAKO

Player Registration and Spectator Passes are available NOW!

Sign up now at CHALLONGE.COM/EVENTS/NAKO2024

Player Registration:
$80 for any level
+̶ $̶2̶5̶ f̶o̶r̶ F̶r̶e̶e̶s̶t̶y̶l̶e̶
Freestyle Spots are foll

Registration price goes up to $90 October 121st
Registration Closes November 1st

Spectator Pass:
$25 per day
$60 3-day pass
Available Online and at

You may only register for 1 skill level. Show your kentegrity and sign up for the level that best represents your skill once trick lists release

Girls competitions are a free additional competition open to any female identifying players competing in NAKO. This allows us the opportunity to highlight the amazing women in our sport each year.

TRICK LISTS RELEASE ~1 MONTH BEFORE COMPETITION.

PLAYER REG & SPECTATOR PASS

NAKO HOTEL INFO

Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West
3131 Campus Drive, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441

1 king bed or 2 Queen Beds
$139/night

Booking cutoff Thursday, October 24, 2024
or when rooms are full

Book online at https://www.crowneplaza.com/Or call call 763-559-6600 and request the Sweets Kendamas Convention 2024 room block to receive the discounted group rate.

BOOK YOUR ROOM NOW

NAKO 2024 FAQ

  • 3 DAYS FULL OF KENDAMA!

  • Open style competition for every skill level.

  • World class Freestyle competition.

  • Kendama vendors from around the world.

  • Workshops for kendama & kendama related skills.

  • Video premiers from your favorite kendama brands.

  • Mini Games & side activities throughout the weekend.

  • Raffles & giveaways.
  • EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND!

  • Kendama players of all ages and skill levels can compete NAKO!

  • Players under 16 require a parent or guardian at the event.

  • Players under 18 will not be able to book a hotel room and will need parent or guardian present.

  • A precise schedule will not be available until closer to the event date.

  • There will be competition and events from roughly 10am - 10pm Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

  • We suggest flying in Thursday night (November 14th) and out Monday morning (November 18th) to experience everything
  • NAKO is the North American Kendama Open, previously the Minnesota Kendama Open. One of the largest annual kendama competitions in the world.
  • Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West
    3131 Campus Drive, Plymouth, Minnesota 5544

  • 1 king bed or 2 Queen Beds
    NAKO Group rate $139/night.

  • Booking cutoff: Thursday, October 24, 2024 or when rooms are full.

  • Or call 763-559-6600 and request the Sweets Kendamas Convention 2024 room block to receive the discounted group rate.
  • Competition and Spectator passes will be available on Challonge this summer. Please keep an eye on our Instagram for updates on when registration opens.
  • The Crowne Plaza West is 23 miles from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, the hotel does not offer a shuttle but ride share services like Uber or Lyft are readily available.

  • This year all 3 days of competition are taking place at 1 venue which once you get to the hotel you will not need additional travel to attend NAKO activities.
  • Sweets Kendamas Headquarters will be closed to the public Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. 

  • Historically we have opened our doors the Thursday before NAKO to anyone traveling to Minneapolis. Due to the prep that is required to make NAKO awesome, we will not be hosting a Pre-Jam at Sweets HQ this year but we will have the shop open on Monday for you to come see the museum before your flight home.

  • Sweets Kendamas is 16 miles from the Crowne Plaza West and 15 miles from MSP.

COMPETING AT NAKO - OPEN STYLE KENDAMA

NAKO IS FOR EVERYONE!

At NAKO there is a competition level for every player from brand new to seasoned pro! We put together a blog of some of the common questions we get from players looking to compete for the first time. Check it out here:

Sweets Blogs

NAKO 2024

12

DAYS

12

HOURS

12

MINUTES

12

SECONDS

BEGINNER

1. CANDLESTICK
2. BASE CUP
3. SMALL CUP
4. BIG CUP
5. MOSHIKAME x5 (first cup is 0)
6. FRYING PAN, SPIKE
7. BIG CUP, BUNGEE BIG CUP
8. BIG CUP, ORBIT BIG CUP
9. EASY SPIKE, EARTHTURN
10. SPIKE, FLYING TOP SPIKE
11. AROUND JAPAN
12. AIRPLANE
13. SPIKE (no spin)

BEGINNER TRICK VIDEO

INTERMEDIATE

1. AROUND THE WORLD
2. SARA BASE CUP, DOWNSPIKE
3. NIGHTINGALE, SPIKE
4. AIRPLANE, JUMPING STICK
5. LIGHTHOUSE, IN
6. STUNTPLANE
7. HANGING AIRPLANE
8. HALF SPACEWALK IN
9. DOWNSPIKE, SARA GRIP EARTHTURN
10. SMALL CUP, KNEE BOUNCE BASE CUP, SPIKE
11. GUNSLINGER SPIKE
12. BIG CUP, KENFLIP SMALL CUP, SPIKE
13. REVERSE FRYING PAN, SLIP ON STICK

INTERMEDIATE TRICK VIDEO

ADVANCED

1. AROUND USA
2. INWARD WHIRLWIND
3. LIGHTHOUSE, INWARD LIGHTHOUSE FLIP, TRADE SPIKE
4. DOWNSPIKE, SARA BASE CUP, AIRPLANE, JUMPING STICK
5. HANDLESTALL, SPIKE
6. SWITCH AIRPLANE, JUMPING STICK
7. DOWNSPIKE FASTHANDS
8. CANDLE UNDERBIRD, OVER THE VALLEY, TRADE SPIKE
9. LUNAR, LUNAR FLIP, IN
10. AIRPLANE, DOUBLE JUMPING STICK
11. AXE, IN
12. SPACEWALK 1-TURN IN
13. SWING 1-TURN SWAP SPIKE

ADVANCED TRICK VIDEO

AM OPEN

LEVEL 1
1. 2-TURN LUNAR, DOUBLE LUNAR FLIP, IN
2. BIRD, FLIP OVER THE VALLEY, INWARD FLIP BACK OVER, SPIKE
3. DOUBLE TAP JUGGLE SPIKE
4. SWITCH LIGHTHOUSE, TRADE SPIKE
5. HANDLESTALL, NOD OFF, NOD ON, SPIKE
6. HANGING DOWNSPIKE FASTHANDS
7. GUNSLINGER TOSS LIGHTHOUSE, IN
8. INWARD STILT, IN
9. INWARD AXE, OVER THE VALLEY, IN
10. KEN SCRAMBLE PENGUIN SPIKE

LEVEL 2
11. LUNAR, LUNAR BARREL ROLL, IN
12. INWARD LUNAR, BACKFLIP, IN
13. SPIKE, EARTHTURN, WHIRLWIND, EARTHTURN
14. AIRPLANE, 1.5 SWAP JUGGLE SPIKE
15. STILT, TRADESPIKE
16. LIGHTNING DROP 1 TURN IN
17. AIRPLANE - 1.5 SWAP JUGGLE DOWNSPIKE
18. SCOOPING GOLDFISH TRADE INWARD LUNAR (one motion), IN
19. 2-TURN LIGHTHOUSE, TRADE NIGHTINGALE, INWARD FLIP IN
20. CANDLESTICK BASECUP, DART

AM OPEN TRICK VIDEO

GIRLS OPEN

LEVEL 1
1. 2-TURN LUNAR, IN
2. BIRD, FLIP OVER THE VALLEY, INWARD FLIP BACK OVER, SPIKE
3. SWING TAP IN, JUMPING STICK
4. SWITCH WHIRLWIND
5. BIRD, NOD OFF, NOD ON, SPIKE
6. HANGING 1-TURN AIRPLANE
7. DOUBLE GUNSLINGER SPIKE
8. STILT, STILT FLIP, IN
9. DOWNSPIKE, TRADE LIGHTHOUSE, TRADE SPIKE
10. KEN SCRAMBLE PENGUIN SPIKE

LEVEL 2
11. NUNAR, LUNAR BARREL ROLL, IN
12. INWARD LUNAR, DOUBLE INWARD LUNAR FLIP, IN
13. JUGGLE TO SPIKE, EARTHTURN
14. WING, SPIKE
15. STILT, SWAP SPIKE
16. SPACEWALK 1 TURN IN
17. STUNTPLANE, TRADE PENGUIN SPIKE
18. SARA GRIP SCOOPING GOLDFISH DOWNSPIKE (one motion)
19. 1-TURN LIGHTHOUSE, DOUBLE LIGHTHOUSE FLIP, INWARD IN
20. CANDLE HANDLE, SWAP SPIKE

GIRLS OPEN TRICK VIDEO

PRO OPEN

LEVEL 1
1. SWITCH AIRPLANE, 1.5 SWAP SPIKE
2. HANDLESTALL, ORBIT HANDLESTALL (either direction), SPIKE
3. INWARD JUGGLE SPIKE
4. 2-TURN AIRPLANE, DOUBLE JUMPING STICK, INWARD DOUBLE JUMPING STICK
5. HIPPIE FLIP LIGHTHOUSE, IN
6. DOUBLE GUNSLINGER, DOUBLE WHIRLWIND
7. INWARD STILT, BACKFLIP, IN
8. BEVEL FLICK STUNTPLANE FLIP
9. AROUND USA WITH DOUBLE EARTHTURNS
10. SWING 1-TURN SWAP CANDLE BASE CUP, TRADE IN

LEVEL 2
11. INWARD LUNAR, INWARD STILT, STILT, LUNAR, IN
12. INWARD LUNAR, SPEED UP TAP CUSH TO INWARD LUNAR, BACKFLIP CUSH IN
13. BIRD, JUGGLE OVER THE VALLEY, INWARD FLIP IN
14. AIRPLANE, 1.5 SWAP JUGGLE LATE KENFLIP
15. 1.5 TURNTABLE STALL TRADE DOWNSPIKE
16. SWEETS SPECIAL DOWNSPIKE FASTHANDS
17. GUNSLINGER JUGGLE LATE SLING
18. AROUND STALLS (SARA GRIP)
19. GOON PINCH TO SPIKE
20. KENGRIP SCOOPING GOLDFISH TRADE DOWNSPIKE (one motion)

LEVEL 3
21. MATEO CHANCE (pull up kenflip juggle late kenflip juggle) GHOST TOSS STUNTPLANE FASTHANDS
22. LUNAR, INWARD 1-TURN SWAP, INWARD 1.5 TOSS BACKFLIP TO LUNAR, INWARD FLIP IN
23. PENGUIN NIGHTENGALE , INWARD EARTHTURN SARA GRIP NIGHTENGALE, PENGUIN SPIKE
24. PULL UP KENFLIP LATE INWARD KENFLIP LATE KENFLIP
25. 2-TURN CUSH IN, 2.5-TURN SWAP TOSS 2-TURN CUSH IN
26. SARA WING, SLIDE TO UNDERBIRD, SLIDE TO PENGUIN WING, PENGUIN SPIKE FASTHAND KENGRIP
27. 3 TAP SWAP 2 TAP SWAP 1 TAP SWAP JUGGLE SPIKE
28. STILT, STILT TRE, SWAP SPIKE
29. AIRPLANE, 5 TAP IN
30. LIGHTHOUSE, CLOUDBOUNCE LIGHTHOUSE (any number of flips), IN

OPEN TRICK VIDEO

IMPPORTANT LINKS

INFORMATION HUB: NAKO.WORLD

REGISTRATION: Challonge.com/events/NAKO2024#/

Hotel: CrownePlaza.com

Instagram: instagram.com/NAKendamaOpen

Discord: discord.gg/REkvpTmYHk

Volunteer Form: forms.gle/2jVDNB8whb7qGArUA

Workshop Submission: forms.gle/M46QKKZ4r8zKM2gX8

Facebook Event: facebook.com/share/WW8z6SRrVHNC64Eo/

Trick Video Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4LQTX97wWcTfiDhfl3Y905-38gmTmtbJ&si=4buvTLdFTYpzG37S