Dahrumasan ga koronda
|
|
Dahrumasan ga Koronda is a Japanese game for at least three players. It bears a resemblance to the largely English children's game Red Light, Green Light. There are many variations of the game and slight rule changes based on region or merely the group of people playing the game. One known variation is that in Osaka and the surrounding area, this game is called "Bosan ga Hewo koita" (a bonze farted).
Starting the game
One person is chosen as the Oni or demon. All other participants act as common players. Before play begins, a starting line is drawn, and the demon stands at some distance away from the starting line, in front of a tree, wall, or other fixed object.
The game begins with the players shouting "hajime no ippo" (Taking the first step!) As this is shouted, the players on the starting line jump one step in any direction, but usually towards the demon.
Main gameplay
The demon faces away from the other players towards the tree or the wall, so that he cannot see the other players. He then chants a spell: "Daruma san ga koronda" (the Daruma tumbled down). The other players approach the demon while this spell is spoken aloud, coming as near as possible .
When the demon is finished with the spell, he can then turn around and look at the players. The players should stop their actions immediately when the last word is spoken and try not to move while the demon is looking at them, or they can be called out. The demon checks to see if any player is moving. If nobody is moving, he turns around again, and repeats the spell.
When the demon does spot somebody moving he calls that player's name. The player whose name is called upon is caught. That player then has to go to the demon and stand holding one of his hands. This player may not run away or help the other players. If all the players are caught in this way by the demon (the captured players chain along, holding each other's hands), the person first caught is the next demon.
If a player reaches the demon or any caught players, he gets to free them from the demon. To free them he shouts "Kitta!" (I cut you loose) and makes a gesture of slicing between the clasped hands of two players or by touching the back of the demon. Players that freed run as fast as they can away from the demon. Players not freed may not run away. The demon then turns as soon as he can and shouts "Tomare!" (Stop!). The players should stop immediately at this point, but are not recaptured if the demon sees them move after his call.
After such a jailbreak, the demon then takes five steps from where he is standing and the player he touches becomes the next demon. He may not touch players who are still captured. If the he cannot reach any other player, then he remains the demon for the next round.
Strategy and style
A popular strategy for this game, when playing as the demon, is to chant at varying speeds or to chant so fast that it is dangerous for any player to move at all. Players often strike strange poses when stopping to show off skill and it is quite common for the best player to stand right behind the demon but not touch him. This player then may taunt the demon when he turns around.ja:だるまさんがころんだ