Bamboo stilts (Takeuma)

Takeuma is a Japanese traditional plaything. It is referred to as stilts overseas.
Wooden platforms are attached at the center of baeach of the bamboo poles. A child places his/her feet on each platform and grips the tops of the poles to move forward.
Sadly, most takeuma are no longer made of bamboo, but manufactured from stainless steel.However, it’s hard to replicate the warmth of natural materials. Take this opportunity to relish the past and play with your children with a homemade, bamboo takeuma.

Takeuma has a very long and rich history originating from ancient times. There is a reference to takeuma in a Chinese storybook, as a bamboo pole used as a hobby horse. It seems children used to mimic adults by riding the pole as a make-believe horse.

In Japan, the history of takeuma can be traced back to the Heian era (794-1185), where one poem depicts children using bamboo as a mock horse.
In the Muromachi period (1392-1573) a popular game emerged where children attached a bar to the trunk of two long bamboo, and walked grabbing the tops of the bamboo poles..

During the Edo Period (1603-1868) a toy called Harukoma was invented, where the head of a horse was placed at the top of the bamboo, and wheels at the bottom. .
These days, takeuma is constructed out of Japanese Timber Bamboo. It was during the Edo period that children started to make various toys with bamboo.

It is common for children to race on takeuma.

Watch the video below to view children playing with Takeuma!