[For Global Customers]Kurukuru Ribbon Stick in Kenya – Maasai Village
Ninjin also brought the Kurukuru Ribbon Stick to a Maasai village in Kenya.
When we first saw the photos and videos, we could hardly believe our eyes. We never imagined our little ribbon toy would reach such a place. It felt like watching a scene from a documentary.
A Message from Ninjin
These photos were taken in a Maasai village.
The man wearing the striped shirt (not traditional Maasai clothing) was our driver who brought us to the village. He said, “I want one too!” Unfortunately, I didn’t have any extras, so I promised to bring one next time.
The Maasai people kindly lent us their traditional clothing, welcomed us into their homes, shared a meal with us, let us try throwing a spear, and taught us about their daily lives. As a thank-you for their wonderful hospitality, I gave them Kurukuru Ribbon Sticks as gifts.
It was fascinating to watch how they spun them. The men moved their hands as if they were making fire, while the women spun them with the graceful movements they use when weaving. Everyone happily said, “Kurukuru!” as they spun them incredibly fast.
They asked me, “What does ‘Kurukuru’ mean?” I explained that it is a Japanese word describing something that spins around and around. They smiled, repeated the word, and continued playing. It was a truly heartwarming moment.
Seeing the joy of this simple toy cross borders and bring smiles to people from another culture deeply touched my heart. Carrying it all the way from Fukui, Japan, to a Maasai village in Kenya—a journey of nearly a day and a half—was absolutely worth it.
What is this?
🍽 Ugali
The white food served with the white liquid is ugali, one of Kenya’s staple foods.
It is made from white cornmeal and was served with fresh cow’s milk in a Maasai village. In Nairobi, we also saw people enjoying it with salted vegetables, much like rice in Japan.
🌿 Sugarcane
We enjoyed fresh sugarcane with a street photographer.
The sugarcane was peeled and cut into easy-to-eat pieces. After taking our photos, he sent them directly to our smartphones.
🐟 Fried Tilapia
Many street food stalls were selling fried tilapia.
It is one of the most popular local foods in Kenya.
Special Thanks
Namiho Sato
Director, Moyo Children Centre
▶ Ninjin
https://www.instagram.com/_nin_jin/