Kemari is a game played by eight participants who attempted to kick a ball into the air repeatedly without letting it touch the ground; the players competed regarding the number of times kicked and the grace of their movements.

At each corner of the kemari field (which measured approximately 12.7 meters on each side) stood a ceremonial tree representing one of the four seasons: cherry, willow, maple, and pine. Kemari matches were also held within the courtyard of the Shiro Shoin drawing room at Edo Castle. At Edo Castle, however, all four trees were pine trees.