HAMA SPINNING TOP / PLAINE / M

The Hama Spinning Top is made from cherry trees on Mt. Ibuki, and each one is carefully and painstakingly crafted by a skilled craftsman. Please experience the "pleasure of spinning and its beautiful look" that only a traditional handicraft with a long history can create.
*Each piece is handmade, so the color may differ slightly from the picture. Please understand it beforehand.

"A Spinning Lucky Charm"
The shape of the Hama Spinning Top shows that there is a straight core running through the center of the spinning top. This is associated with a positive feeling, such as "to make sense out of something" or "to carry out one's wishes". It is also have the undermeaning that the "money spinning" "head spinning" and "work spinning smoothly" is derived from the spinning of the spinning top. This craft is often sent as a birthday gift with the wish that one's life will turn out well. The spinning of the spinning top and the unbroken pattern of the spinning top are considered to be auspicious because they form a circle, which means that things will go smoothly and successfully.

Width：7cm
Depth：7cm
Height：7.5cm
Weight：35g

Wood

WOOD STUDIO KATAYAMA

"Products that give comfort to the soul."

We use wood given to us by nature to make the most of its beauty, and we cut the wood with reverence for the tree that has become a large tree. The more the craft is used, the more the warmth and flavor of the wood becomes apparent, giving comfort to the human heart.
We will continue to challenge new Japanese woodturning craft while preserving traditional techniques and the heart of the woodworker.

ARTISAN STORY

Katayama Wood Works / Kiichi Katayama
Kiichi Katayama is a second-generation of Katayama Wood Works, established in 1950. He and his wife has been in business for over 70 years.
Husband cuts and wife paints. They work in tandem to produce one-of-a-kind spinning tops.
Please enjoy the rare value of "only one in the world"!

ROKURO KOGEI / JAPANESE WOODTURNING CRAFT

About 1,200 years ago / 800s / Heian Period (794–1185)

Japanese wooden spinning tops developed from toys introduced from continental Asia and are recorded as courtly and children’s amusements by the Heian period. During the Edo period, woodturning skills spread widely, and craftspeople learned to shape extremely precise centers of gravity for toys, competitions and street performances.

In Japan, tops are closely associated with New Year celebrations. Because a smoothly spinning top suggests that things will “turn well,” it can also carry auspicious meaning. Today they survive as toys, educational objects, interior pieces and compact demonstrations of a woodturner’s skill.

Top-making is far more scientific than it appears. Even a tiny shift away from the true center makes a top wobble, so craftspeople read the grain and density of the wood as they cut. A top that spins for a remarkably long time makes the accuracy of the maker visible in real time.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.