Komaspace - Japanese Spinning Top Introduction

A collection of special terms in connection with koma

An explanation of the special expressions used in this site "Komaspace".{Please study this special terms, as they are used in the various training courses.
These terms are presented in the Japanese "a-ka-sa-ta-na" order.
You can look up those words from within the pages by pressing [Ctrl]+[F] keys, if your browser supports that function

[ka][sa][ta][na][ha][ma][ya][ra][wa]

[a]

Uchi-nage (inner throw){A method to throw the Koma{Normally, when throwing the Koma, it is thrown with a hand-movement that starts at a position away from the body, but similar to throwing the Beigoma when doing uchi-nage the Koma is thrown with a handmovement that starts near the body and goes outwards in the direction of the back of the throwing hand.{In case of uchi-nage the string must be wound to the left.{ Synonym:Hiki-nage, Beigoma-nage

Ura-waza (upside-down technique){Normally, the Koma is upright when spinning, but when the prefix "ura" is added it means that specified trick is down with the Koma upside-down. For example "ura-tsuna-watari (upside-down tightrope walking)" or "ura-kuchu-tenose (upside-down jumping onto the hand)"{Opposite: omote-waza (upright technique){Synonym: ura-ban

Ura-ban{Same as ura-waza (upside-down technique)

Enshin-ryoku-kei (zentrifugal swing){Same as giant swing

Ohkan (beer-bottle-cap){Who can spin the Koma in a small container like a beer-bottle cap longer? Has been used in competitions, but nowadays often pet-bottle caps are used.

Omote-waza (upright technique){Term for the normal, upright way of Koma spinning contrary to ura-waza (upside-down technique). Opposite: Ura-waza (upside-down technique)

[ka]

Kara-goma (empty koma){Same as can-goma

Can-goma (can goma){Koma made from sheet metal or plastic.{Light, ?????? recommended for beginners.{Best as an easy to use Koma and, when properly wound and thrown also best for easy to use techniques.

Ki-goma (wooden koma){A koma made from wood, with a shape like a tetsuwa-goma without the iron ring. No special characteristic of performance, somehow between tetsuwa-goma and can-goma

Kubi-furi-undo (precession movement){Same as saisa-undo

Koku-in (carved seal){Depending on the maker, different seals are carved in the koma. {The origin of that custom is not known. With the help of the koku-in (of the maker) the different shapes, materials and dimensions of koma can be distinguished (at least on this website).At present only the koma sold by Tamiwa Toys have koku-in. Otherwise I only know of 5 other koku-in, namely:Mitsu-wa, hyo-tan, ki, maru-gane, sakura

Koma (Japanese top){The main object of this web-site.{Some say it's the oldest toy in the history of the world (according to the investigation of this web-site).{Koma is an special old reading of the two chinese characters, which are normally pronounced "doku-raku" (and mean "unique-fun").

Koma-himo (Koma string)About the special string needed to spin a Koma. String specifications for Beigoma or Koma used for artistic tricks vary from person to person their preferences, likes and dislikes. Such preference points are:* String material* Length and thickness

Koyubi-ha (small finger style){A certain way of grasping the string when throwing the koma.After winding the string onto the koma, the end of the string is fixed between the small and the ring finger before throwing the koma. {Depending on the preferences of each person another way is to hold the string between the middle finger and the ring finger. {I cannot say which way is better, but holding the string between the little und ring finger in koyubi-ha is most popular.There are also others like Hito-sashi-yubi-ha (index finger style), nigiri-ha (gripping style) etc.

[sa]

Saisa-undo (precession movement){precession is for example the change of the direction of the earth axis in time and this word is therefore used in astronomy. The orientation or the earth axis is not just perpendicular to the rotation, but a bit inclined and the rotation of that inclination is called precession.Any top is doing a similar movement, and in case of a Koma it takes about 5 seconds to for the precession movement to turn around once. {In case of the earth the precession movement is much slower. It takes about 25,920 years to turn around once.

Shiroto-uke (popular for amateurs){There are certain techniques, which are very popular with amateurs.{This expression is not limited to koma. Advanced techniques are only good for advanced level professionals. For amateurs such advanced levels are too difficult. For amateurs it is better to use simple techniques rather than difficult ones. Tricks like "koma jumping onto the hand" are appropriate for children and therefore popular among them.Other popular tricks among amateurs are "tightrope walking", "giant swing", "take with string onto hand"

Shinbo (axle){The essential part to enable the koma to turn right or left.{The good or bad condition of the axle depends of whether it goes exactly through the center of gravity or not. A koma with a well balanced axcle can turn longer and is more stable.

Suisha-kei (water wheel style){Designates the technique to let the vertically rotating koma ride on the string, in which situation it is reminiscent of a water wheel. {Examples for this techniques are "riding on the string", "jumping onto from behind and riding on the string"Synonym: himo-nose-kei (riding on the string style)

Spin top{The name of a spinning top from the American company Duncan Toys.{The special feature of this top made of plastic is a built ball bearing {and there is also a groove in the axle. The tricks succeed mostly without fail, but otherwise it's quite difficult to handle.

Suppo-nukeru (slip and fly off){If the string is not wound well onto the koma (string is rather loose), it can happen when throwing the koma, that the string suddenly gets detached, so that the koma flies in the throwing direction, as it is not held back any longer by the string and the koma turns into a dangerous weapon.When using the lightweight can-goma or ki-goma, slipping off when throwing does not happen much, but it occurs quite often when using the heavy tetsuwa-goma.

Soto-nage (outer throw){A method to throw the Koma The normal way of throwing the Koma with a hand-movement that starts at a position away from the body and goes in the direction of the palm of the throwing hand.

[ta]

Daisharin-kei (giant swing){A general term for making a koma, which is turning in the horizontal plane, ride on the string by using the centrifugal force when swinging the string in a large circle.{It looks like the koma is circling around your body and compared with other basic tricks is a bit difficult to handle. {Once you mastered this trick, the range of tricks you could tackle will grow considerably. Example of a giant swing trick: Kamaitachi (whirlwind monster)

Tate-nage (vertical rotation throw)The technique how to throw and catch a vertically rotating Koma. Actually the rotation is not exactly vertical, but a bit inclined.

Tate-waza (vertical rotation technique){A trick, in which the koma turns in a vertical plane. {The turning plane is actually not exactly vertical, but a bit inclined. {That way the koma can ride on a string or spin on your finger.Examples of tate-waza tricks are "himo-kake-nose (riding on the string)", "yubi-tsumami (hold between fingers)"Opposite: yoko-waza (horizontal rotation technique)

Tamiwa Toys{The only Japanese toy company, which is still producing tetsuwa-goma (iron ring tops). Regarded as the king of koma makers in Japan.

Chongake-goma (pull on heels koma){The name of a type of koma.{As with tetsuwa-goma many different tricks are possible.{Only known around the Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara etc.) otherwise not much known, even in Japan.{A rather large koma with a thin string. {Similar to chugoku-goma (Diabolo) the rotation can be maintained. Looks like a Diabolo, where one side is missing.

Tetsuwa (iron ring){ This word means iron ring but is also used as synonym or abbreviation for tetsuwa-goma.

Tetsuwa-goma (iron ring koma){The koma which is used and introduced in this web site.{Many people in Japan are familiar with this koma. {It is a (wooden) ki-goma, with an iron ring put around. {It keeps a strong rotation very long and is very stable. The name is often abbreviated to "tetsuwa"Synonym: Tetsuwa (iron ring）

Te-nose (spinning on the hand){As the name says it describes a koma spinning on the hand. {Depending on the region (in Japan) also the expression "kuchu-te-nose" is used. This term is not the name of a trick, but rather means the condition of the koma spinning on the hand.

Use: Starting a giant swing has to be done from "te-nose", when the koma is spinning on the hand.

Densho-asobi (traditional playing skills){Traditional playing skills handed down from one generation of children to the next.

Example：koma, ote-dama, menko, gen-dama.

Dowa-goma (body ring goma)Synonym for Tetsuwa-goma (iron ring koma)

Toko (floor){The arena when koma competes against another koma.{Often used for Beigoma

Tome-musubi (knot in the string, overhand knot)The general name for a type of knot in Japanese. Used when explaining how to tie the knots at the string ends. But otherwise, when referring to Koma, the word "Kobu" is used for those knots instead

[na]

Nakayubi-ha (middle finger style)A certain way of grasping the string when throwing the koma.{After winding the string onto the koma, the end of the string is fixed between the middle and the ring finger before throwing the koma. {Depending on the preferences of each person another way is to hold the string between the small finger and the ring finger. I cannot say which way is better, but holding the string between the little und ring finger in koyubi-ha is most popular.There are also others like hito-sashi-yubi-ha (index finger style), nigiri-ha (gripping style) etc

Nage-goma (throw koma){General term for koma with a string, which are thrown to rotate.{Beigoma and the Kenka-goma from Kyushu in Japan are Nage-goma.{However we will mostly talk about the Tetsuwa-goma (with an iron ring).

Naname-nage (inclined-throw)The technique to throw and catch a Koma with spins in an inclined plane. It is in general the comparatively easy throwing technique and also recommended for beginners.

Naname-waza (tilted rotation technique){A technique where the koma spins, rides on a sting or on the finger in a tilted position.Exemples are "Tsuna-watari (tightrope walking)" or Kuchu-te-nose (jumping onto the hand)It was not clear in which category a tilted Tsuna-watari belongs. Whether it is a Yoko-waza (horizontal rotation), or a Tate-waza (vertical rotation) technique and therefore I thought about the catergory Naname-waza (tilted rotation technique), which is quite different than the other two

Ni-koma-washi (Two koma tricks) {It means that you are using two koma for a trick

Nigiri-ha (grip style){A way of holding a koma when throwing.{After winding the string onto the koma, the end of the string can be fixed between the middle and the ring finger before throwing the koma, but when using Nigiri-ha (grip style) the koma is just thrown as is, that means the string is only gripped between the thumb and the index finger, without being additionally secured by between any other fingers.Depending on the preferences of each person another way is to hold the string between the small finger and the ring finger. I cannot say which way is better, but holding the string between the little and ring finger in Koyubi-ha is most popular.There are also others like Hito-sashi-ha (index finger style), Nakayubi-ha (middle finger style) etc.

Ni-ren-chan (2 team style) {Same meaning as 2

Nemuru (to sleep)The state of a spinning Koma, which rotates without visible movement or vibration and appears if standing still, glued to the surface. Especially for Daisharin-kei (giant swing family) techniques it is important to bring them to the ideal Nemuru state.

[ha]

Hatsu-tarou (name){A personality who spread the popularity of the art of koma. {He was a handsome young man, I heard, but I don't know more about him.

Hiki-nage (pulling throw) { Synonym for Uchi-nage (inner throw), where the hand is pulling rather than pushing.

Hito-sashi-yubi-ha (index finger style){A way of holding a koma when throwing.After winding the string onto the koma, the end of the string can be fixed between the middle and the index finger before throwing the koma.Depending on the preferences of each person another way is to hold the string between the small finger and the ring finger. I cannot say which way is better, but holding the string between the little and ring finger in Koyubi-ha is most popular.The Hito-sashi-yubi-ha (index finger style) is not the most common as there are also others like Hito-sashi-ha (index finger style), Nakayubi-ha (middle finger style) etc.

Hyotan (calabash){The name of one of the seals carved into a koma. {It looks like the shape of a calabash (a kind of pumpkin).{Nowadays there is only the Mitsuwa (three rings) seal left, but in former times there have been others, but they are not used any more. The characteristics of a koma with a Hyotan seal is that the body is flat like a disk (not like the usual cone shape). The axle is rather long and mostly used for Tate-waza (vertical rotation) techniques.

Himo-nose-kei (riding on the string style) { Synonym for Suisha-kei (water wheel style)

Himo-nose (riding on the string) {As the word says it means riding on the string). {Depending on the (geographical) region or case "Himo-kake-nose" or "Himo-nose" is used, but it is not a trick as such but it means that the koma rides on a string in when it is rotating in a vertical plane: e.g. changing from himo-nose (state) to a "radar" movement.

Fusa (tuft) {The tuft on both ends of the string (when the ends are not sealed).{ Can be used for Daisharin-kei (giant swing).

Futa-tsu (two) { When two trincks in Suisha-kei (water wheel style) follow each other. {If more tricks follow each other it can be called e.g. Itsu-tsu (five) {(*) may not be used, depending on the region

Futatsu-me (second) {Describes the size of a koma.{With higher numers, like "Mitsu-me (third), Yotsu-me (fourth) etc. " the koma is getting bigger.The basic size is "issun ichibu" (about 33 mm) and when the radius increases by "ichibu" (about 3 mm) the number of kokuin increases by one.In former times koma up to Yatsu-me (eighth) were sold, it seems, but nowadays only Futatsu-me (2nd) and Mitsu-me (3rd) are available.

Fure-fure (shake-shake) {Word used for a koma, which vibrates because the axle is not exactly in the center.{ Example: "The axle of this koma is fure-fure"

Beigoma {For a game where koma fight against other koma in an arena called "Toko". {Looks different than a Tetsuwa-goma, which has an axle. The Beigoma doesn't have one and looks from the side like a triangle. And because there is no axle the winding and throwing method, which actually is the key for winning or loosing, is also different.

Bey-toko (bey-goma arena) {The arena for a bey-goma competition.{The shape is that of a dome turned upside down like a plate (dish) {in which the spinning koma will constantly bump into each other. {Not only used for bey-goma but the bey-toko (arena) is also used for any other Nage-goma (throwing koma) competition.

Beigoma nage (bey-goma throw) {Synonym for Uchi-nage (inner throw)

[ma]

Mise-waza (Show trick) {Tricks used for a performance. {When talking about ball juggling there is "mills mess" and "1up-2up" {and for koma there is for example the "snake" and "kamaitachi (whirlwind monster) "trick.

Miso-suri-undo (precession movement) {Same meaning as Saisa-undo (precession) movement, which is not unlike the movement of the wodden stick used for making Miso paste.Precession is a word used in astronomy I think, but Miso-suri-undo is the term often used in connection with koma.

Mitsu-wa (three rings) { The name of the koku-in used by Tamiwa toys on their Tetsuwa-goma (iron ring koma).The special feature of koma with the Mitsu-wa (three rings) seal is that the shape of the body when looking from the side has a diamond shape (in short the "normal" koma shape). {Can be used for yoko-waza (horizontal rotation) techniques and also for "allmighty" tricks.{Currently, the only koma with koku-in seals are sold by Tamiwa. {

Mitsu-me (second) Describes the size of a koma.With higher numers, like "Mi-tsume (third), Yo-tsume (fourth) etc. " the koma is getting bigger.The basic size is "issun ichibu" (about 33 mm) and when the radius increases by "ichibu" (about 3 mm) the number of kokuin increases by one.In former times koma up to yatsu-me (eighth) were sold, it seems, but nowadays only futatsu-me (2nd) and mitsu-me (3rd) are available

[ya]

Yoko-nage (horizontal rotation throw)The technique use for Yoko-nage, to throw and catch a horizontally rotating Koma. This technique is generally considered as being difficult.

Yoko-waza (horizontal rotation technique) {Term for techniques for koma rotating in the horizontal plane. {In this orientation, the koma can ride on a string or on the finger.Example of a yoko-waza trick: Daisha-rin (giant swing), LiftingOpposite:Tate-waza (vertical rotation technique)

[ra]

Radar {Name of a koma trick. {When crossing the strings around the axle of a horizontally or vertically rotating koma. Tricks similar to a Yo-yo are possible that way. Can be used universally as you can switch to radar from most of the tricks and also looks good. Use: E.g. changing from Tsuna-watari (tightrope walking) to a "radar" movement

[wa]

Waza-goma () {Term for koma which can be use for artistic tricks.{It has also the meaning for koma with a hyotan seal. { Synonym:Hyotan (calabash) koma