Acchi muite hoi: "look over there!"
Acchi muite hoi (あっち向いてホイ) is a Japanese game played after janken. The winner points up, down, left or right; at the same moment the loser turns their head. If the head turns where the finger points, the pointer scores.
How to play Acchi muite hoi
- Throw janken. A tie is thrown again.
- The winner points a finger in front of the loser's face and calls "acchi muite… hoi!".
- On "hoi!" the winner points up, down, left or right, and the loser turns their head up, down, left or right.
- Same direction: the pointer scores. Different directions: nobody scores, and you start again with janken.
What the words mean
"Acchi muite" means "look over there" and "hoi" is just the shout on which both move. It's a game of quick reactions: the loser is trying not to be fooled, the winner is trying to guess where they will look.
Acchi muite hoi strategy
Only one pointing in four hits if both choose at random, so points are precious. People tend to look away from where they were last caught and to repeat what worked. Mix your directions and watch theirs.
Playing Acchi muite hoi on Janken
After each janken you get five seconds to point or to look. Play to 1, 2 or 3 points, against a bot or a player online. Acchi muite hoi games are casual.
Questions
What does "acchi muite hoi" mean?
"Look over there, hoi!" "Hoi" is the call on which the finger and the head move.
What happens if the directions don't match?
Nobody scores. You play janken again to decide who points next.
Can I play Acchi muite hoi online?
Yes, for free on Janken, against bots or real players.