Playing badminton: clubs, gyms and kit
Most adult badminton in Japan is played in city gyms, by clubs called サークル or at open sessions. Booking a court usually goes through the city, and popular slots often go to a lottery. This lesson covers booking, joining a club and buying shuttles and strings. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.
G
25 words for playing
Each card shows a word and a line for the gym, the club or the sports shop. Eight reuse words from Everyday Japanese 1–7.
M
Ways to play, and booking a court
City gyms all work in a similar way: register once, then book or join an open session.
| Japanese | What it is | Note |
|---|
- Lotteries. Weekend slots at city gyms often go to a a month or more ahead. Weekday evenings are easier to get.
- Shuttle money. Clubs often share the cost of shuttles, , on top of the court fee.
- Everyone sets up. Players put up the posts and nets together at the start and put them away together at the end.
C
Four patterns to use today
Z
Say it in Japanese
Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.