Making a Beigoma Floor

Basic Idea:¶

A Beigoma floor, often called yuka, is the playing surface. It is not a flat table. It is usually made by stretching strong cloth over a round container or low frame so the cloth forms a shallow bowl.

That shallow depression matters: it draws the tops toward the center and makes collisions more likely.

Materials:¶

• A stable bucket, barrel, tub, or low circular frame
• Strong cloth, canvas, tarp, or similar durable fabric
• Rope, rubber band, clamp strap, or other fastening material
• Optional padding or anti-slip material under the base
• Optional tape or marks to identify the throwing side

Build Steps:¶

1. Choose a stable base. It should not tip over when several players lean near it.
2. Cut or prepare cloth large enough to cover the base with generous overlap.
3. Place the cloth over the opening.
4. Fasten the cloth around the outside of the base.
5. Adjust the tension so the center is slightly lower than the edge.
6. Test with several throws and tighten or loosen the cloth until tops stay active without immediately escaping.

Size:¶

A larger floor is easier for beginners because it gives them a bigger target. A smaller floor is portable and useful for workshops with limited space, but it makes accurate throwing more important.

For group teaching, several compact floors are usually better than one perfect large floor.

Safety:¶

The base must be stable. If it shifts during play, the tops may jump unpredictably or the group may crowd in to fix it.

Check the edge fastening regularly. Loose cloth changes the game and can make throws inconsistent.

Notes:¶

Tokyo Beigoma has published examples of inexpensive mini-floor construction. Treat exact dimensions as flexible: the useful test is whether beginners can land tops and whether the tops move toward each other often enough to make the game exciting.

Source:¶

Based on Tokyo Beigoma's goods articles about Beigoma floors and Galiton's beginner guide to floor setup.