What is a Beigoma?

* Beigoma is a fighting koma

Beigoma is a kind of fighting koma, where the koma of 2 or more players bump into each other until there is only one left spinning.


The shape is like yousee in the picture.
As there are no detailed rules and specifications for playing or fighting there are many variations of shape and size.
(to improve performance it is even possible to change the shape by remodelling...)





Although the Beigoma enjoys a high recognition in the Japanese Koma-world the average Japanese does not know much about it. He has heard about it and has even seen a contest, but those who know about how to spin, how to wind the string, or know the general rules of contest are very few nowadays.
(That was different in former times …)


* The roots of Beigoma

It is said that originally a spiral shell, called Bai-gai (Whelk), filled with clay or wax has been first used.
It later developed and spread over all of Japan (but the recognition was rather low nowadays) and became, what is today known as Beigoma.
The Bai-gai shell used for a koma became >> Bai-goma >> Beigoma.
(it seems that the pronunciation changed when spreading through different regions)


Furthermore the abbreviating "Bey" is used in koma circles, as for examples in "Come, let’s play Bey now".



Picture (Still now a Beigoma can have spiral patterns like a shell, trances from the times when a Bai-gai was used.)

Nowadays the manufacturing of various types of Beigoma made from iron continues, but there are not many shops left, who are selling them.


* Beigoma’s points of charm and fascination

* Fun to remodel
Beigoma remodelling is not something complicated like inserting a bearing or removing limiters etc., but rather simple changes like changing the shape of the body with a file.
But it is not something to make light of, because there are endless possibilities and optimizing the performance can be carried to extremes.

* Cheap
Like the Tetsuwa-goma, which is explained on a different page, the Beigoma is not expensive and you can get it for around 100 yen (1 dollar).

* Fun to collect
As explained above, the Beigoma is cheap and there are many different types.
Once you become interested it will not take long and you will have accumulated a nice collection.
There will be some which are not sold anymore and other which you won at a contest and for which you have good memories.
So collecting them is a nice hobby I think.

* Beigoma is "cool"
This may be different depending on the different perceptions, but it has at least for me personally a lot of charm.
As the Beigoma is made of iron, if the shape, turning velocity and many other conditions come together, it will make sparks when it bumps into another one! If you think about it, there are not many other toys where children can play to make sparks.
Once you become a high level contestant this can be the climax of an intense fight.

I also think that the names and special terms used for Beigoma are way cool.
I really think for example, that the Beigoma names "Kaku-roku" or "Chu-osama" etc. have a very nice sound for Japanese ears! Don’t you think that such old Japanese traditions and customs are really rare nowadays in conversations of playing children.
And for the high level specialist these expressions will become very enthusiastic.