Title:

雷さまのたいこつり (kaminarisama no taikotsuri)
the thunder god’s taiko fishing

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This top depicts the thunder god. In this scene, the thunder god has dropped the taiko drum he uses to create the sound of thunder. He leans over the side of a cloud and uses a hook to try to reclaim his fallen drum. When you spin the uppermost top, the thunder god clatters back and forth, having difficulty trying to hook his drum.

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Hiroi Michiaki: And this is the thunder god, it’s called “Raikō’s taiko-drum fishing.” While the thunder god is thumping the taiko drum to sound the thunder, he drops the drum and can’t make thunder anymore. In his haste he tries to fish for his drum from atop a cloud, tries to snag it on the hook. If you spin this, he clatters about and can’t easily ensnare [the drum]. And in the middle of that he stops thundering. It’s that sort of top.