KenKen Cool Facts

Trivia about your new favorite game

“Ken” means “Wisdom” in Japanese, so KenKen is “Wisdom Squared”

The original Japanese name for KenKen is “the Kashikoku Naru puzzle,” which means “the It-Makes-You-Smarter puzzle”

KenKen was invented by Japanese math educator Tetsuya Miyamoto in 2004, under his philosophy, “The Art of Teaching Without Teaching”

KenKen appears daily in the New York Times newspaper since 2009, the only daily feature ever added since NY Times crossword puzzle.

KenKen now appears in over 150 publications worldwide including The New York Times (daily newspaper and online), Times (UK), Los Angeles Times, AARP Bulletin, Scholastic Math Magazine. Represented by Universal Uclick, world’s largest independent press syndicate.

100,000+ interactive KenKen games played daily online

25,000 teachers worldwide subscribe to the free KenKen Classroom program (www.kenkenpuzzle.com/teachers)

Over 125 Million games played online since 2009.

KenKen puzzles are created through an artificial intelligence program called “The Kenerator”

KenKen is available in mobile apps, Kindle, websites, books, newspapers & magazines.

Will Shortz, North American “Puzzle Master” & New York Times puzzle editor calls KenKen “The most addicting puzzle since sudoku”

KenKen is for everyone. No age, gender or language limitations