Tops, or koma, are round and made of wood and pierced through the middle with a rod that’s used as the axis for rotating. These tops, which spin by being spun either by hand or with a string, came to Japan in the eighth century from China, by way of the Korean Peninsula (that is where the name “Koma” derived from). At first they were a game for the court people and the nobility, but then during the Edo period (1603-1867) the tops became widespread and gradually became a game for children as well.

Competitive games with tops have become very popular. Using a string, players spin small wooden or steel tops called bei-goma, inside a ring, like a bucket covered with a towel, and try to knock their opponents’ tops out of bounds. The Sasebo Koma is also called “Kenka Koma (Fighting Tops),” used in a lively game called “Ikinaga Shomon Shokurabe.” This phrase was shouted by children as they competed while playing with tops.

Over the years many kinds of tops have been created in Japan, including tops that make noise and tops that spin extra fast. They are used as toys, in traditional games, holiday games, and even in some modern-day international competitions! The Sasebo Koma is well known throughout the country for its beautiful shape and design. Many places in Japan display the Sasebo tops. There is a life size replica of a top in the train station, street posts whose tops are shaped like the koma, and pictures of the tops in the sidewalks along the streets.

Among the many big, small and family-run businesses all around Sasebo, we had the pleasure of coming across this one. It is run by a very pleasant, older Japanese couple. It is called, “Sasebo Tops.” The husband makes the tops and the wife paints them.

The wife showed us around their shop which is run out of part of their home. She showed us the different tops (speaks broken English but enough to talk and give information). There were tops with animals painted on them and she explained to us that they represented the zodiac signs and we got to find ours.

As we were looking around the shop, the lady asked us if we wanted to try spinning the tops. We said “of course!” So the lady showed us how to spin! You wrap the string, clockwise, around the rod on the bottom of the koma (which you hold facing facing up first).Then, you face the rod downward, so your hand is placed over the top of the koma, your thumb facing downwards. You then throw the koma outwards, not raising your arm higher than your shoulder and pull your arm back quickly as you pull the string. The top should then spin 🙂

AND after we had made our purchases, she came out of the shop and told us to practice. Then she gave us the practice tops that we had played with! We had such an awesome time!

Uncategorized