Kendama looks like a simple wooden cup-and-ball toy, and the first catch is easy, but the trick ladder behind it is deep and genuinely addictive.

Landing a new trick gives a clean little hit of satisfaction, and the focus it demands is almost meditative.

The honest reality is that the early frustration is real (the spike catch humbles everyone) and progress is in small increments, but it's cheap, pocket-sized, and weirdly hard to put down.