NORTH AMERICAN KENDAMA OPEN
The 2025 North American Kendama Open is August 22, 23, & 24 in Minneapolis Minnesota.
For more information follow
@NAKendamaOpen
GET READY FOR A WARM-WEATHER NAKO!
The 2025 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 22nd.
Sweets Kendamas HQ will not be open to the public NAKO weekend.
On Thursday August 21st we will have a pre-jam at the MN State Fair and a welcome sesh in the evening at the Crowne Plaza.
Player Registration, Convention Passes, and Hotel information are available below.
Find more FAQ below and reach out to events@sweetskendamas.com if you have any questions!
TICKETS TO NAKO
Player Registration and Convention Passes are available NOW!
Sign up now at: Challonge.com/events/NAKO2025
Competitor Registration:
$100 for any level
+̶ $25 for Freestyle (limited spots available)
Registration Closes August 8th
Convention Pass:
$30 per day
$75 3-day pass
Available Online and at the door
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.
Competitor Pass - For kendama players who want to compete. Includes Convention pass.
Convention Pass - For spectators and NAKO attendees who do not want to compete. Get access to watch all the competition, check out the vending, watch premiers, participate in mini-games, and attend every workshop! Kids under 6 free with parent/guardian ticket
NAKO HOTEL INFO
Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West
3131 Campus Drive, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441
1 king bed or 2 Queen Beds
$139/night
Includes breakfast for 2 to 4 guests depending on room size.
Booking cutoff Wednesday, July 30, 2025
or when rooms are full
Book online at https://www.crowneplaza.com/
or call call 763-559-6600 and request the Sweets Kendamas Convention 2025 room block to receive the discounted group rate.
IMPORTANT LINKS
INFORMATION HUB: NAKO.WORLD
REGISTRATION: https://challonge.com/events/NAKO2025
Hotel: CrownePlaza.com
Instagram: instagram.com/NAKendamaOpen
Discord: discord.gg/REkvpTmYHk
Volunteer Form: https://forms.gle/haLpDyW8XxZWQH3V7
Workshop Submission: https://forms.gle/gKuKbFLn1xyFXx3SA
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/17vxdVTyCz/
Trick Video Playlist: coming soon
NAKO 2025 ROUGH SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
Pre-Jam at Minnesota State Fair
* MORE INFO SOON*
FRIDAY
9:00 AM: Check In
11:00 AM: Opening Ceremony
12:00 PM: Competition Starts
- Open
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Freestyle
- Girls Open, Int, Adv
10:00 PM: Video Premieres
Vending: 10am - 5pm
Workshops & Side Comps: All Day
SATURDAY
9:00 AM: Competition Starts
- Student Comp
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- AM Open
- Beg/Int/Adv Girls
- Girls Open
- Open
- Freestyle
10:00 PM: Movie Night
Vending: 10am - 5pm
Workshops & Side Comps: All Day
SUNDAY
10:00AM: Finals Start
- Yank Comp
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Beg/Int/Adv Girls
- AM Open
- Girls Open
- Open
- Freestyle
6:30 PM: Trophy Presentation
Vending: 10am - 5pm
Workshops & Side Comps: All Day
MN STATE FAIR
The State Fair is a Minnesota summer tradition and where we really got our start as a brand. One of the reasons we are so excited for the new NAKO dates is because it gives everyone the opportunity to visit this awesome event before a week full of kendama.
Not only is the State Fair a lot of fun with a ton of food and entertainment options, but it draws a massive crowd every year. With 100+ kendama players walking around, filming, jamming, and teaching first spikes on. Thursday we have a chance to make an impact for kendama!
The Crowne Plaza and the State Fair Grounds are ~25 miles from each other. There are some public transit options, but a shared Uber/Lyft is a great way to get around.
NAKO is not officially associated with the State Fair, but we always have a lot of fun going and want you to all experience it too!
JAM DAY - Thursday Aug 21
We will set a time and location closer to NAKO (check the Instagram) to meetup and play some kendama together. This will be a casual jam.
FIRST SPIKE CONTEST
With so many people around you know we will all be teaching kendama at the fair, so we want to make it a contest. We will be hosting a First Spike / Fair Edit contest; so get together with your squad, spread some kendama love, and film some tricks!
More info coming closer to NAKO (check the Instagram)
NAKO 2025 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.
- Keep an eye on our Instagram at instagram.com/NAKendamaOpen or check back here for all important updates.
- 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 and out Monday morning 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.
- Includes breakfast for 2 to 4 guests depending on room size.
- Booking cutoff: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 or when rooms are full.
- Or call 763-559-6600 and request the Sweets Kendamas Convention 2025 room block to receive the discounted group rate.
- Competition and Convention/Spectator passes will be available on Challonge.
- 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.
- 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:
