Croquet - croquet (English spelling)

Japanese: クロッケー - くろっけー（英語表記）croquet

A type of ball game. It is also pronounced as kuroke or kuroke. It started in France around the 15th century and was introduced to England in the 17th century. It was originally called pall-mall in England, but in 1861, a Frenchman named J. Jacques published an instruction manual in English, and the name croquet became established. It is mainly played in Commonwealth countries, but the rules are slightly different from those in France. In the United States, roque, which developed from croquet, is played. The game is played by hitting six hoops and pegs on a rectangular lawn of about 32 meters and 25.5 meters with a mallet, hitting a wooden or plastic ball with a mallet (mall), and competing to see who can pass the hoops in a set order and hit the last peg in the fastest time. Two to eight players are divided into two teams, each with a black, blue, red, and yellow mallet and ball. The actual rules are quite complicated, and players are required to play with intelligence. It is the prototype of Japanese gateball.

[Tsuneo Ishii]

Subsequent developments

In Japan, the Japan Croquet Association was established in 1983 and has been promoting the sport in various ways, based on a court built in the national Showa Memorial Park. Internationally, the association is a member of the World Croquet Federation, an alliance of associations from around the world, and is involved in activities such as sending players to the World Championships and holding international exchange events.

[Editorial Department]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

球技の一種。クロケ、クローケーとも発音される。15世紀ころフランスで始まり、17世紀にイギリスに伝わった。当初イギリスではペルメルpall-mallとよばれていたが、1861年にフランス人J・ジャックが指導書を英語出版し、クロッケーの名称が定着した。イギリス連邦諸国でおもに行われるが、フランスとは多少ルールを異にする。アメリカではクロッケーから発達したロークroqueが行われている。競技法は、約32メートルと25.5メートルの長方形の芝生に6個の柱門（フープ）と標柱（ペグ）を立て、木槌(きづち)（マレー）によって木製やプラスチック製の球を打ち、規定の順の柱門を通過させ最後の標柱に当てる早さを往復で競う。2名から8名が2チームに分けられ、それぞれが黒、青、赤、黄色の木槌と球をもつ。実際のルールはかなり複雑で、頭脳的なプレーを要求される。日本のゲートボールの原型である。

［石井恒男］