Hanetsuki (羽根突き, 羽子突き) is a Japanese traditional game, similar to badminton, played with a rectangular wooden paddle, called a hagoita, and a brightly-coloured shuttlecock. Often played by girls at the New Year, the game can be played in two fashions, by one person attempting to keep the shuttlecock aloft as long as possible, or by the two people batting it back and forth. Girls who fail to hit the shuttlcock get marked on the face with india ink. Traditionally, the longer the shuttlecock remains in the air, the greater protection from mosquitoes the players will receive during the coming year. Although Hanetsuki is not as popular as it used to be, decorative hagoita are commonly sold throughout Japan. This article is about the racquet sport badminton. ... A paddle is a tool for mixing or pushing against liquids, typically in order to propel a boat. ... Hagoita (羽子板) are rectangular wooden paddles, originating in Japan, ostensibly used to play hanetsuki, but often instead serving a more ornamental purpose. ... A shuttlecock has a rounded head and a conical skirt of feathers. ... In ancient times, the Japanese New Year (正月 shōgatsu) followed the same lunisolar calendar as the Chinese or Korean/Vietnamese New Year (at the beginning of spring). ... Indian ink (or India ink in American English) is a simple black ink once widely used for writing and printing. ... Genera See text. ...