odama

Odama, from the Japanese term 大玉, literally meaning “large ball,” is a word used to describe a ball of considerable size. In contemporary Japanese usage it is relatively uncommon as a stand-alone noun outside specific contexts, and it often appears in compound terms or as a descriptive label for large spheres in sports, toys, or crafts.

The name Odama is also associated with a video game released in 2006 for the Nintendo GameCube. Published by Sega, Odama is a hybrid real-time strategy and action game in which players guide military units on a battlefield while attempting to move a giant ball—also called Odama—toward enemy targets. A distinctive feature of the game is its use of voice input: players can issue commands via a microphone to influence the ball’s movement and rhythm on the map. The title is frequently noted for its experimental blend of genres and its unusual control scheme, which received mixed reviews from critics and players.

In other contexts, the term remains a generic linguistic label for a large ball and may appear in Japanese-language descriptions or media where a ball of substantial size is being discussed. It does not denote a widely used technical term outside of these references, and its most prominent claim to recognition in popular culture is the 2006 video game Odama.