When Daruma ate a fish

Long before academics fell in love with Globalization and started researching it through and through, people and ideas traveled the world and made it a tiny bit smaller. More than any age group, children are open to new experiences, new trails and new people. This is a post about the ability of children to play and about one game that toured the world.

 

 

This game was changed in every country it landed but the basic idea remained the same. One child is “it”. He stands with his back to the other children who stand at some distance. He says a phrase, and the children need to advance towards “it”. When he turns back they have to stop and not move. If they move they go to the start line.

The phrases and the rest of the game itself have variations depending on the country it’s played in, making it localized.

 

Red Light, Green Light (England)

In the English version the phrase is “Red light, Green light” imitating the “Stop-go” signs of the traffic light.

 

 

Daruma-san ga koronda (Japan)

This game is popular not only in the English speaking world but in the far east as well. The Japanese phrase is “Daruma san ga koronda” literally means “Daruma san fell down”.

In the clip you see high school students enjoying the game (and one character who is completely puzzled by this fact…)

 

 

Daruma is a famous zen priest and he appears in another game called “Daruma otoshi” where you need to kick the lower disks with a small hammer without making the whole structure fall.

 

 

mugunghwa kotchi piusumnida (Korea)

In the neighboring Korea the phrase is “mugunghwa kotchi piusumnida” literally translates as “The Rose of Sharon Blooms Again”.

This game has a variation. Instead of going back to the start if “it” sees the child, the child has to come to “it” and hold his pinky with his own. The role of the other children is to get as close as possible to “it” and free the children by “cutting” the pinkies chain. Then they all have to run to the start line and “it” has to chase them. If “it” catches a child, this child becomes “it”.

 

 

Achat, shtaim, shalosh, dag maluach (Israel)

This fun game reached not only Europe and Asia but also Israel. The Israeli phrase, “Achat, shtaim, shalosh, dag maluach” means “one, two, three, salty fish”.

The Israeli version also has a twist. When a child succeeds in reaching “it” without being seen, “it” has to tell a story using the words “salty fish” three times. On the third time the children need to run and “it” has to catch. The one he catches is “it”.

 

 

Children have the unique ability to ignore differences in race, religion and language and can play and have fun with everyone. As Whitney Huston said: “I believe that children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way”. Let’s remember the beauty and fun of playing together even as we grow up.