HAKATA KOMA

Chikushi Shuraku the 3rd ― 20th head of the Chikuzen Hakata koma family

Born into the professional Hakata koma family, he made his stage debut at the age of three.
At age ten, he was given the name Chikushi Juraku the 2nd and began his professional activities.
Alongside mastering spinning top techniques, he also studied the musical accompaniment of Hakata koma, known as jikata, and began performing with Japanese wadaiko drums.
At age seventeen, he took on the role of jikata for Hakata koma performances.
As part of his Hakata koma activities, he has performed both domestically and internationally across 14 countries with his mother and mentor, Chikushi Shuraku the 2nd (currently known as Hakata Kochō, designated as an Intangible Cultural Property of Fukuoka Prefecture).
In 2012, under the patronage of Sanyūtei Enraku, he inherited the name Chikushi Shuraku.
As the third-generation Shuraku, he performed "Hakata Koma – The World's First Spinning Top Art" in the United States, South Korea, and China.
He is also actively involved in promoting Hakata koma, visiting elementary schools with the program Hakata koma and Traditional Play, and serving as a part-time lecturer at high schools and universities with the theme "Life Skills Through Classical Performing Arts", contributing to the training of future successors.

Chikushi Saira

She was introduced to Hakata koma and Hakata Kinshishi Taiko through a performance she attended at the invitation of a friend.
Later, through connections with those involved, she began working part-time and eventually formally joined the troupe. She is currently dedicating herself daily to mastering both Hakata koma and Hakata Kinshishi Taiko.
In 2019, she received the stage name “Saira” from Shuraku the 2nd (now Hakata Kochō) and became a certified performer.
She performs in domestic and international shows and events alongside Chikushi Shuraku the 3rd.
Recently, she has been gaining attention as a female spinning top artist, and solo interviews and media features have been increasing.

Hakata Koma History

The Origins of Hakata Koma

Hakata koma [literally: spinning tops from Hakata] were the first examples of inserting iron tips into wooden bases in Japanese spinning tops. More importantly, the origins of all spinning top performance arts that have subsequently spread throughout the various regions of Japan can be traced back to the art now known by the same name.

Spinning tops, known as koma in Japanese, originally made their way to Japan from the Asian continent as children’s toys. The first tops brought to Japan were made of bamboo and are believed to have arrived around 1,300 years ago. During the Heian period, their form and names changed, but at that time, spinning tops were precisely that: merely objects that spun, and their rotation was relatively crude.

However, it was simple games using spinning tops that evolved and led to the birth of Hakata-style koma. They were used in a game called kenkagoma [fighting tops], where children began to test their skills against one another. Eventually, iron tips were inserted into the base, sparking a transformation in the way they were used. More acrobatic tricks began to emerge, leading to the rise of professional spinning top performers known as komashi. Their performances evolved into full-fledged theatrical shows held in small venues, and
performers began touring around the country.

The Hakata koma troupe gradually made their way to Kyoto and Osaka, where their performances gained popularity, further spreading the fame of their art form. Records indicate that the shows in Kyoto’s Shijō-Kawara area were so successful that nearby kabuki theaters experienced a decline in attendance, highlighting the immense popularity of these spinning top performances.

One particularly famous komashi named Ichitarō from the Nakaishidō-machi area of Hakata was actually summoned to the Imperial Court, where he showcased his tricks before the emperor. As a result, he received the honor of being allowed to display the Imperial Crest of the chrysanthemum and paulownia on the Hakata koma banner. This recognition led to a surge in the popularity of Hakata koma artists who became widely acclaimed throughout Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Even foreign missionaries documented the popularity of Hakata koma, leaving behind valuable ethnographic records. Towards the end of the Edo period, under orders from the shōgunate, Hakata koma performers embarked on Japan’s first overseas tour, and even received an invitation from the British royal family, showcasing the global reach and appeal of this traditional art form.

Today, the spinning top performances found throughout Japan can all trace their lineages back to Hakata koma, and their origins lie solely in the Hakata tradition. As the only officially recognized head family in Japan, the Chikuzen Hakata Koma group play a crucial role in preserving and promoting the tradition of spinning top entertainment. They are responsible for passing down the knowledge and skills required for the craft and performance of spinning tops, ensuring the continuity of this traditional art form.

In 1958, the Hakata koma performing art was designated as Fukuoka Prefecture’s first Intangible Cultural Property, a testament to the enduring significance and cultural value of this tradition. Currently, the 20th-generation head and third-generation performer, Chikushi Shuraku, continues to preserve this tradition through crafting tops and performing their art.