Why Did the Mikasa Hurt So Much?

Most of us grew up playing football in the street, in the school playground, or anywhere we could use two jackets or two stones as goalposts. All those memories are probably starring a kid whose ball had black triangles on it — the Mikasa. The ball of street football, of neighbourhood pitches and muddy parks. The Mikasa is one of the most iconic balls ever made, and it has spanned several generations. Its defining characteristic was its hardness — it was almost as hard as Jaap Stam, and possibly harder. But why did it hurt so much?

The company that now focuses its energy on producing volleyballs and handballs created an extraordinarily resilient ball from a special patented leather. Its secret lies on the inside: the nylon winding. This material provides that distinctive hardness. Inside the ball, multiple layers of nylon winding are wrapped in different directions — creating a strong and highly durable outer surface. This tangle of nylon fibres protects the bladder and prevents any puncture or deformation.

Furthermore, the leather exterior has no padding of any kind — another factor that extends the lifespan of the hardest ball in the solar system. Anyone who played with one knows it took special bravery to volunteer as goalkeeper, stand in a wall, or attempt a header. It tattooed thousands of young players across almost every part of the body, free of charge.

There are many stories surrounding this ball, and we're certain every single one of them is true. When you saw it dropping out of the sky there was nowhere safe to go — it was like a flaming meteorite entering the atmosphere. Legend has it that medieval siege commanders used to fire Mikasas from their catapults — probably the most effective tactic ever devised. There are also those who maintain that in the bowels of the Titanic, on that fateful night, a game of wall-ball was underway using a Mikasa. What is crystal clear is that we all enjoyed a ball that brought us together and left us with memories — some of them utterly unforgettable.

'The Mikasa': Nostalgia for many, pain for everyone.