MINGEI - spinning top makers

http://darumamuseum.blogspot.jp/2009/12/koma-spinning-top.html


komashi 独楽師 making spinning tops
Spinning tops became a well-loved hobby of the grown-ups in Edo since the Genroku period (1688 - 1704). It was also a means of boys to find boy-friends.
. nanshoku、danshoku 男色 homosexuality in Edo .
Since this was becomming too obvious, the Bakufu government banned spinning tops in the year 1701.
The children of Edo were only using beigoma, spinning tops made from shells.
Since 1830 spinning tops from metal were sold.
Making spinning tops of wood was a side-business in Edo. The wood was first roughly cut, then smoothed with a file. After applying some colors it was covered with wax and polished.
Some tops were attached to a rope and used like ヨーヨー Yo-yo.


source : driveplaza.com/special/onihei

They were most popular in Nagasaki and called
tsurigoma 釣り独楽　"fishing spinning tops"
or teguruma, te-guruma 手車 "hand wheel".


source : yamada.sailog.jp/weblog
teguruma uri 手車売り vendor of a "hand wheel" toy


. Edo shokunin 江戸の職人 Edo craftsmen .

. kendama けん玉 cup and ball and Yo-Yo .

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