How to Make a Dorodango (Japanese Polished Clay Ball)

Hikaru Dorodango (mud dumpling) is a Japanese art form in which earth and water are molded to create a delicate shiny sphere.

There are many ways to make a dorodango, this is one method I have come up with which has worked pretty well for me, but also take look
at this common method if you're interested.

Dorodango core Mix:
You only need to add sand if your soil is too rich in clay and wants to crack.
1 clay
1 sand
1/2 water
1/8-1/4 straw, very finely chopped

Alternative recipe using only bagged pottery or mortar clay:
1 clay
2 sand
1/2 water

Filming and Graphic Design - Kalin Steen
Subtitles - Athena Steen
Set Design - Bill Steen
Music by Unclebories

[richardflores]

As a Ceramics professor, I have done this for years, encouraging my students / collecting different soils from all over the world as I travel making dorodangos that represents the specifics of each place visited. A better memento than any item you could buy. They are much more personal and I promise if you take the time to make one you will never forget the details of the place and people and the memories that go with it. Excellent video

[lucasolson]

I see art like this and I remember the Towie ball of Scotland or the Neolithic stone balls found all over the world. Something people forget when they look at the remnants of the past is that it was made by people. Real people. Kids that grew up in the wild heather of the islands, watching the waves roll through the fog and crash against the black sands on the coasts of Japan. They had hopes and dreams and desires. They got hungry and had favorite foods. They had toys and warm clothes. They made art for the sake of art. Sometimes, a thing is just a thing. It doesn't have a purpose beyond being beautiful and amazing. Hemmingway wrote masterpieces, Van Gogh painted his ecstatic visions of the world and a child watched his father five thousand years ago polish a handful of earth into a perfectly smooth ball. Its wonderful to see. It's so human.

[survey]

Your videos on Dorodango are not just informative, but incredibly filmed and super relaxing. After 6 years, they are still the best on YouTube.

[niallwildwoode]

I've watched several videos on this since coming across yours, and yours is definitely the most professional production. Aesthetic, artistic and not ego-driven. I've just made my first cob and clay ball with a little final addition of red ochre that I found a tiny pebble of. I can't get over how something so beautiful is achievable so simply. I'm going to master this and add it to my teaching list for glampers and forest school parties coming to my farm. Thankyou!

[bobfugazy]

Excellent handwork. I was inspired by this man and video to make a ball out of Basswood. It turned out beautifully. Everyone that picks it up is amazed at how round it is, and smooth. I used jars just like this gentleman and super glued different grades of sandpaper to the lip of the jar. It was time consuming but the end sphere is worth it. I named it the Sphere of Destiny and it's sitting in a special holder I made for it. Thank you for the inspiration. I will make a Dorodango (or a few). Best wishes.

[Magician]

god i do not get how buzzfeed makes a bad video about this and gets on trending but you dont. seems fishy.

[avereth]

This video reminded me of how when I was a kid I would make and dry balls of clay rich dirt found in the back yard and sometimes paint them. I am happy to see someone taking this activity far more seriously and being able to put a name to it. :)

[shawnmclaughlin]

I like that you left it quiet so that we could hear all the pretty sounds. Did you do it on purpose?😊

[CadenGoodban-xlkm]

Cinematography blows me away every time

[coloradozmom]

I still have mine from 2005, you have been given such a gift from your parents and artists around the world. I love my Clay Marble :)

[cityheron]

This is the best video I could find on this subject. Amazing camerawork, how is your YouTube channel not blowing up?

[Neuralatrophy]

Basically a polished mudbrick... Not to downplay it, its the finish work that makes it amazing !

[osiris]

If you stopped watching a buzzfeed video and came here instead... good for you. sit and enjoy a nice relaxing video instead of loud unfunny mediocrity.

[iris]

i keep coming back to this video. everything about is just so beautiful and calming. thank you.

[atsukorichards]

Oh, this 泥ダンゴ brings me back to my daughter's daycare days! The teachers there were such experts!

[deranathonarkantos]

This must be where Christopher Paolini got the inspiration for the dwarves’ thardsvergûndruvmal.

[samkim]

You should wear a respirator or a fine particle mask when working with dry materials! Awesome and satisfying video!!

[thecalmingzone]

this video was so much better than any BuzzFeed dorodango video, I'm glad I found your channel

[davidhynd]

Beautiful work. Until I stumbled upon this video I didn't even know such things existed. Now I have an urge to make some.

[FloydeXXNatural]

My youngest two sons and I are going on our first camping trip tomorrow. I think I couldn’t have seen this at a better time. What a cool and special memento this will be of that trip. I’m excited to bring a little of that dirt home 😊