Vintage Japanese Yamagata-kei Koma by Suzuki Shouji

Dimensions: 7-1/4”h x 3-1/4” dia.

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

Offered are a set of two specially formed spinning discs (tops) made to spin on a specially fashioned stick. This type of balancing game requires dexterity in not only balancing the top but spinning it at the same time. Daidoogei Street Performers, (jugglers and acrobats) were extremely popular for spinning tops on long poles during the Edo. Each top is concave on the top and each top is an abstract flower painted in red and surrounded by black and dark green bands that ring the top and bottom of the top. The tops are weight by design to balance producing an overall circular motion. The spinning top is made to rotate in a hollow of the wooden indentation on the back and to keep it from falling off its base with a hand-fashioned tip that is part of the axle stem for spinning. The balancing pole is 12 inches in length with a conical top for balancing each individual top. The three-piece set was designed to be a hand-held toy to be taken wherever needed. Tops are signed on the back by the carver.

Condition: Excellent condition means that the piece has no cracks or repairs with fine and original details consistent with the 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 sought-after collectible highly valued artifacts.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Toys and Tops of many shapes and materials have been found throughout Japan and are 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 an everyday toy is symbolic of housebound children in winter and on holidays.