Mikado, or pick-up sticks as it is also known, is a game that we played often as children. The game got its name from the highest scoring (blue) stick “Mikado“. Mikado is the name given to the Emperor of Japan. We played Giant Mikado at Goose’s Japanese birthday party last week and as a memento to send home, we made each child their own set of Mini Mikado. I think they will also work very well in our bon-bons/crackers next Christmas too!
HOW TO PLAY “MIKADO”
1 Blue Mikado stick – 10 points
8 yellow sticks – 5 points
8 green sticks – 3 points
8 pink sticks – 1 point
Any number of people may play. Everyone sits in a circle.
One person holds the sticks upright touching the ground, then opens their hand to let the sticks fall. The sticks should all lay on top/under each other in a disarrayed fashion (the messier the better). Each person takes a turn at removing one stick from the pile, while trying not to move any of the other sticks.
If the player moves any other stick apart from the one they are trying to remove, it is the next person’s turn. But if he/she moves the stick without moving any others, they have another turn and keep going until they move a stick and then it is the next person’s turn.
When the Mikado stick has been lifted, it may be used for the removal of further sticks.
When all the sticks are gone, everyone counts the value of their sticks. The person with the highest score wins!
