Nowadays, kids only enjoy playtime when they are using their gadgets. They might not already recognize the wooden toy tops that children used to fancy a long time ago. In Japan, there were the Beyblades, the seemingly more “mechanical” tops popularized by the manga, with the same name, by Takao Aoki.
However, no matter how much technology is playing a role in the daily life of Japan, a passionate traditional wooden topmaker wouldn’t let all that modernization ruin his love for the toy.
His name is Masaaki Hiroi.”Cutting-edge technology is fun, but it’s a pity if children become absorbed only in those toys,” said Hiroi in an interview by AJ+, a global news community.
Through the years, he even innovated and experimented on the Japanese Edo spinning tops, just to give children a touch of traditional Japanese playtime that no other gadget can ever provide.
The Master Topmaker
Masaaki Hiroi is an 80-year-old Japanese toymaker in Japan. He is a fourth-generation craftsman in their family. Hiroi started making spinning tops when he was 30 years old. Their family’s business started from his grandfather’s generation. Then, it was passed on to his father, who also became a professional topmaker. Hiroi continued their family business.
Through the years, he has developed a technique of his own. Unlike other craftsmen who draws the design first before carving, Hiroi simply skips the paper method and goes straight to the wood.
“I feel fresh when I start working on something new,” stated Hiroi. And true enough, after almost 50 years of pursuing his passion, he is now on a mission to maintain traditional playtime by creating more innovative and never-before-seen spinning toys.
The Master’s Toys
For Hiroi, it is not just a simple wood carving. It is his passion.
“I want to make people who buy my toys laugh,” said the master in the same video by AJ+. All of his creations are made with true love and effort, as if the purpose is exuded in every wooden piece of the toy.
His creations vary from simple tops to creative toys. He has all sorts of spinning tops that will match each kid’s favorite color.
He actually has upgraded the tops into more elaborate toys. One of them is the noodle-eating doll, equipped with chopsticks and pseudo-noodles, complete with actual eating movement. There is also another doll which puts powder on her face, adding more “drama” into the doll’s movements.
These creations are called trick tops which actually started in Japan for about 300 to 400 years ago. These dolls create entertaining movements by spinning on an iron tip and could rotate for about 20 seconds.
Now, HIroi has already created almost 4000 toys, since his first day of production.
The Master’s Achievements
Hiroi’s creations were said to be not openly accepted in technological Japan, even though his original creations were based on tradition.
However, this didn’t stop him from making spinning tops. In 1980, he had a chance to exhibit his works in Paris where he got a lot of good feedback from the people. Since then, he was convinced to continue his passion and create more spinning tops.
He was also able to revive the Kyokuge Koma, a top used by Japanese vaudeville-style entertainers during the Edo Period. The top requires extremely high skills to create.
Because of his notable works, he was hailed as the first Honorary Citizen of Seattle, Washington, United States. New Jersey also recognized him and made him an honorary Citizen of Fort Lee in Bergen Country. He was able to get these awards for introducing Japanese culture to foreign countries.
However, in a post by the online shop YAQMO, which sells some of his works, as of July 10, 2016, his health condition had not been adept to make more toys.
But no matter what happens, his tops will remain spinning, equipped with the power to make people laugh all over the world. He has already created a legacy that is now even more influential than the most powerful Beyblade there had ever been.
Sources:
Banner Photo by InspireImages. Pixabay Licensed under Creative Commons. (Public Domain)
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