Vintage Japanese Edo Koma Dish Spinning Toy | Set of Three Tops

Dimensions: Tops —1-1/4”h x 2-0” dia — Base 4-1/2h x 2-1/4” dia — Posts height of 3-0”; 2-1/4”, 1-1/5”

Toys and Tops of many shapes and materials have been found throughout Japan and are among the most ancient toys known.

This is a type of Japanese top called the “Saramawashi”  (Spinning dishes) as typically seen in festivals throughout Japan. When each top is placed on a three tip of each post on the tray and spun, they spin as if you are watching a festival act of spinning multiple dishes on a bowl. When the tops stop spinning, they are designed not to fall but to rest and hang at the side of each stem if you are lucky. The stand has strips of red, green, purple. The tops have stripes; one purple, one green, and one red. The piece is from Narago, Miyagi Province and unsigned.

Condition: Very Good condition means that the piece has no cracks or repairs with some of the line detail slightly faded and one top shows loving use by a child. Original details consistent with age and standards of collectible Vintage Japanese Toys. For those who want to start or expand their collection, Japanese toys and tops continue to be a sought after collectible highly valued artifact.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Toys and Tops of many shapes and materials have been found throughout Japan and among the most ancient toys known. In Japan top playing was a boys’ game bound to specific events and seasons for which spinning tops were serious games, (fighting tops) and general spinning tops being being an everyday toy is symbolic of housebound children in winter and on holidays. Besides games, toys have historically been used for gambling and prophecy.