Play Mikado game everywhere with this easy and inexpensive version. In this game, you need to demonstrate your skills by removing one stick without touching or moving the others.

One stick represents the mikado —the ancient name for the Emperor of Japan—, and the society hierarchy: mandarins, bonzens, samurais and kulis (workers), each one with their respective punctuation.

For complete rules, check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikado_%28game%29.

Hope you like!

Step 1: What You Need

It's almost nothing:

- 31 toothpicks
- some assorted felt-tip pens
- a sheet of cardstock or thick paper
- a printer (optional)
- glue
- scissors

and sure you have in home.

Step 2: Paint the Toothpicks

Paint the toothpicks following this instructions:

- the mikado has a blue spiral and there is only one,
- the mandarin has three wide yellow stripes and there are 5 of them,
- the bonzen has two wide orange stripes and there are 5 of them,
- the samurai has three narrow green stripes and there are 10 of them,
- the kuli has two narrow red stripes and there are 10 of them.

Of course, you can vary the colors and stripes at your own.

Step 3: Make the Box

To make the box, you can copy this design o just print the PDF file in the cardstock sheet.

Cut it and repeat the design of each type of toothpick in one side, as reminder.

Now score the lines, fold it once. Then glue —except the side with thumb indexes— and let it dry with heavy books on.

That's all. Enjoy playing with friends and children everywhere, or just use a surprise gift!