Do you know the block called Kapla?
It is a "pretend play" where you stack thin wooden boards of the same size to make various things. It seems that they are available at children's centers in Kurashiki City, so you may have played with them.
At Geibunkan Hall, an event called Let's Play with Kapla Blocks! is held 5 to 6 times a year with no participation fee.
Each time, the theme changes, and the next event is scheduled for July 20, 2025 (Sunday) with the theme "Let's Create Everyone's 'Favorite'."
To learn what kind of event it is, I participated in Let's Play with Kapla Blocks! - Let's Make a House - held on June 15, 2025 (Saturday) at the Geibunkan Hall Ais Theater.
I will introduce the day's events and the next event.
What is "Let's Play with Kapla Blocks!"?
"Let's Play with Kapla Blocks!" is an event conducted as an independent project of Geibunkan Hall, and it will celebrate its 88th event next time.
The theme for the 87th event (held on June 15, 2025) was "Let's Make a House."
A large number of Kapla blocks were prepared at the venue. It is said that about 1,000 pieces of Kapla are in a wooden box, so there are about 15,000 pieces in total. It is rare to have a place where you can freely use this many Kapla.
First, the certified instructor Hino Sadayuki explains how to assemble the Kapla from the basics.
When Hino-san made a sample house and asked, "What does it look like?" the children energetically replied, "A castle!" "Like a hotel!"
Hino-san continued to speak as follows.
"While you are building, your friends might accidentally break it. But please don't cry or get angry, just say 'It's okay.' The person who broke it should apologize by saying 'I'm sorry.'"
They make a promise to have fun while playing. It seems to be useful not only for shaping but also for emotional education.
Creating in cooperation with family and friends
After listening to the explanation, each group takes their Kapla and separates.
This time, there were many families participating, but children from elementary school and above can also participate with friends or alone.
They create various houses, such as pension-style buildings and high-rise apartments.
The staff seem to be challenging themselves to create a huge structure. What will they make?
The huge structure created by the staff was a "kamakura" (a snow hut). It was large enough for both children and adults to enter, making it a popular photo spot.
Presentation and cleanup after completion
Once everyone is done, there is a presentation session. They look at the completed works.
When the staff asked, "What did you make?" the children proudly answered, "A house!" "A hotel!"
After the presentation, they dismantle the works and clean up the boxes to finish. They create, dismantle, and create again. It seems that there is a lot to learn from Kapla.
Let's touch and play with "Kapla"
At first, I was worried, "Can we really make something just by stacking thin boards?" but I was surprised to see the children working together with their families to create large buildings one after another.
At the end of the event, the children were saying, "It was fun!" "It was interesting!" and leaving with smiles, which was impressive.
Hino-san, who said, "You can only understand the fun of Kapla by actually playing with it," has been working to promote Kapla for over 30 years, even traveling to events outside the prefecture.
"Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of participants in events has decreased, but I hope more people will actually touch it and try making various things," he said.
The next "Let's Play with Kapla! - Let's Create Everyone's 'Favorite' -" will be held on the first day of summer vacation, July 20 (Sunday) with the following schedule.
- Morning session: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
- Afternoon session: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Free participation and no reservation required.
Elementary school students can also participate with friends.
Why not deepen the bonds with family and friends through collaborative work in an air-conditioned indoor space?
Data for Playing with Kapla Blocks
| Name | Playing with Kapla Blocks |
|---|---|
| Date | July 20, 2025 (Sunday) [Morning Session] 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM [Afternoon Session] 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM *Doors open 15 minutes before the start time |
| Location | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (Tax Included) | Free |
| Homepage | Geibunkan Hall |
