At the end of last week we lost one of the most influential people in kendama history. On June 21st, at 90 years old, the founder of Yamagata Koubou and creator of the Ozora kendama has sadly passed away. • I’m 1975 Yosaburo Suzuki worked with the founder of the Japan Kendama Association to create the first standard size competition ready kendama. The Ozora kendama is the basis for all modern kendama shape and play, and for many of us it was one of our first experiences with this amazing game. W