The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SONG

ROCK, SWORD, PAPER.
AIKO DE SHO.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS REFRAIN
WHILE GROWING UP IN JAPAN
AND TEACHES HIS AMERICAN-BORN GRANDCHILDREN THIS SONGGAME.
USING ONE HAND ONLY,
A GROUP OF CHILDREN SING THE ABOVE SONG,
AND AT A GIVEN TIME,
AND ALL AT ONCE,
FORM WITH THEIR HAND
A "ROCK," "SWORD," (SHAPE OF A "V"), OR "PAPER" (PALM HELD FLAT).
ONE BY ONE THE PLAYERS ARE ELIMINATED ACCORDING TO THE FORMULA:
"ROCK" CRUSHES "SWORD"; "PAPER" ENFOLDS "SWORD";
"SWORD" CUTS "PAPER".

Data entry tech comment: WOULDN'T PAPER ENFOLD ROCK? COLLECTOR SAYS SWORD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

Date learned: 07-05-1964