Created by Masaaki Hiroi
Japanese Edo Spinning Tops / Noodle Eater by Masaaki Hiroi
In these days of eye-popping game consoles with seemingly endless applications to amuse yourself, you may think tops — spinning tops — have been relegated to the dustbin of history. If so, you are in for a happy surprise with Edo spinning tops. Besides being an ideal item to add a Japanese touch to any decor, they are as fun to play with as they are to look at. But beware: there’s more to Edo tops than meets the eye!
Edo Spinning Tops by master craftsman, Masaaki Hiroi, are extraordinaire. Tops he creates has a sense of humor, and its hard to resist smiling or be surprised by its unique and enjoyable movement. The intricate mechanism and tricks are all in his mind and has created over 4,000 different types of Edo tops.
The Noodle Eater spinning top looks like a doll at a glance, but if you spin the knob at the top of the umbrella, voila — cute little lordship begins slurping his noodles with delight. Fun to watch and serve as a unique decor. If you are looking for more action, how about the Flying Saucer spinning top. This top is somewhat complex, and would like you to watch the video below for its action.
Every top is handmade and has a different kind of movement, and it will also differ by how strong you spin them, how you hold them and other factors.
Notice (updated 2018):
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Masaaki Hiroi.
His lovable Edo Spinning Tops had so many fans and collectors around the world, and he was so passionate and creative in coming up with new ideas. His sense of humor inspired us and enjoyed working with him. RIP.
