Kaminari-Goma, Japanese Thunder Top
A thunder (humming) top makes a humming noise as it spins. It is made of a section of bamboo, with wooden ends, through which a bamboo spindle is passed. A top is a toy that can be spun on an axis, balancing on a point. It is one of the oldest recognizable toys found on archaeological sites. Spinning tops originated independently in cultures all over the world. Besides toys, tops have also historically been used for gambling and prophecy. The motion of a top is produced in the most simple forms by twirling the stem using the fingers. More sophisticated tops are spun by holding the axis firmly while pulling a string or twisting a stick or pushing an auger. The origin of the word toy is unknown, but it is believed that it was first used in the 14th century
