Title:

なりごま (narigoma)
howling top

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This top is a special type of top called narigoma (鳴り独楽), or a “howling top.” The hole in the side allows air inside, so when it is spun it makes a whistling noise. Click here to see a video of a narigoma being spun.

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[commentary is embedded along with the previous top’s commentary]

Hiroi Michiaki: Umm this is…

Paula Curtis: It’s a dance, right?

Hiroi: It’s a night festival. If you spin it, inside it [looks like] they’re dancing. This is a paper lantern. Actually this is a howling top. A noise comes out of it.

Janell Landis: He made it for me.

Hiroi: Mm… Newton-san really liked night festivals. And later, he came even after Landis-sensei was gone, and, and what was it? He bought a number [of tops]. And one of them couldn’t move properly and he came all the way here, and I remember fixing it for him.