Tops – Koma

Tops – Koma

Yajirou Containers with mini Tops

The simple shapes and beautiful harmony of colors is what attracts us to Koma, a traditional Japanese game toy. The spinning top was a folk craft used as a toy, but also a traditional art perfected by the Japanese. As a kind of quip, the elegant spinning motion of the toy symbolizes “circulation of money” ”smooth work”, and “being quick-witted”.

Historically, it was in the Nara period that tops came into existence in Japan. It is said that they came to Japan through the Korean Peninsula, or perhaps appeared spontaneously in Japan. It is said that fortune-tellers called “koma-byoushi” told fortunes by circulating spinning tops in ceremonies held by the court.

There are many kinds of tops in Japan. Tops popular in the Edo period traditionally had five colors. Each of them has its own meaning; red represents health, black- power, yellow- wealth, green- harvest, and purple- nobility. They vary in color, shape, and size, depending on the region they come from, and all have unique characteristics.

Jindai Koma Top | Sadohara region  Miyazaki prefecture

Jindai Koma Top | Sadohara region Miyazaki prefecture

Typically had the crest of the lords of Shimazu. It is an old toy (Edo period – 1603-1867), with several other names.



Humming Bamboo Koma

“That which had a hole in it” which clearly refers to the tops with a slip that makes a sound of whirling, (Unnari).

Tougatta Ball Game of Luck | Sato, Masahiro | 1868

Tougatta Ball Game of Luck | Sato, Masahiro | 1868

Daruma Spinning Top Set | Kakizawa, Korenobu

Daruma Spinning Top Set | Kakizawa, Korenobu

These four top sets (above) rest on the edge of the base when stopped, or turn to tell a fortune, and are typically used for gambling games.

Dice Game Top | Mamoru, Tsuta | 1940

Dice Game Top | Mamoru, Tsuta | 1940

Edo Goma Game | Hirai Family | 1970

Edo Goma Game | Hirai Family | 1970

“Thunder God” | Raijin Dice Kaminaru, Sama | 1980

“Thunder God” | Raijin Dice Kaminaru, Sama | 1980

Birikan’na Tops

Birikan’na Tops

Harmonic Chattering works on the end-grain of hardwoods, (maple, cherry, walnut and rosewood), which is the only wood to withstand the force of the chatter tool.

Self-Containing Wooden Koma Top | 1960

Self-Containing Wooden Koma Top | 1960

Ohita (Prefecture) Ume Fighting Top The “Wart” type top | Taniguchi Kisaburo | 1970

Ohita (Prefecture) Ume Fighting Top The “Wart” type top | Taniguchi Kisaburo | 1970

Sakadachi Koma | Four Upside-Down Tops | 1980

Sakadachi Koma | Four Upside-Down Tops | 1980

Zodiac Koma | "Snake"

Zodiac Koma | "Snake"

Sumo Wrestlers on Dohyou | Hiroi Masaaki | 1935

Sumo Wrestlers on Dohyou | Hiroi Masaaki | 1935

Sakumani Top | Hiraga Kenichi

Sakumani Top | Hiraga Kenichi

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45 products

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Dice Game Top | Mamoru, Tsuta | 1940
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Edo Goma Game | Hirai Family | 1970
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“Thunder God” | Raijin Dice Kaminaru, Sama | 1980
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Birikan’na Tops
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Self-Containing Wooden Koma Top | 1960
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Ohita (Prefecture) Ume Fighting Top The “Wart” type top | Taniguchi Kisaburo | 1970
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Sakadachi Koma | Four Upside-Down Tops | 1980
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Zodiac Koma | "Snake"
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Sumo Wrestlers on Dohyou | Hiroi Masaaki | 1935
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Sakumani Top | Hiraga Kenichi
Vintage Japanese Gambling Toy and Spinning Top (Koma) by Mamoru TsutaVintage Japanese Gambling Toy and Spinning Top (Koma) by Mamoru Tsuta
Vintage Japanese Tougatta Folk Toy by Sato MashiroVintage Japanese Tougatta Folk Toy by Sato Mashiro
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Vintage Japanese Daruma Koma Folk Toy by Tsuta MamoruVintage Japanese Daruma Koma Folk Toy by Tsuta Mamoru
Vintage Japanese Yamagata-kei Koma by Suzuki ShoujiVintage Japanese Yamagata-kei Koma by Suzuki Shouji
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Vintage Japanese Edo Koma Dish Spinning Toy | Set of Three Tops
Vintage Japanese Zuguri Koma | Hand Spinning ToyVintage Japanese Zuguri Koma | Hand Spinning Toy
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Vintage Japanese Spinning top | Snake Koma
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Vintage Japanese Gambling Toy with Daruma Spinning Top by Kakizawa KorenobuVintage Japanese Gambling Toy with Daruma Spinning Top by Kakizawa Korenobu
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Vintage Japanese Sumo Wrestlers Spinning Top by Hiroi MasaakiVintage Japanese Sumo Wrestlers Spinning Top by Hiroi Masaaki
Vintage Traditional Japanese Sasebo Koma (Competition Spinning Top) by Yamamoto SadaemonVintage Traditional Japanese Sasebo Koma (Competition Spinning Top) by Yamamoto Sadaemon
Traditional Japanese Vintage Narugo Spinning Top | Koma Competition Award by Katakura, TomioTraditional Japanese Vintage Narugo Spinning Top | Koma Competition Award by Katakura, Tomio