OSAKA -- A game of spinning tops called beyblade inspired by a television cartoon series launched earlier this year is enjoying huge popularity among Japanese children, according to the tops' maker.
To keep up with the brisk sales, Tokyo-based toy manufacturer Takara Co. said it plans to turn out one million beyblade tops a month from March.
Takara has produced the tops since 1999 based on the cartoon, which features boys traveling the globe to compete against each other. However, sales have soared since January, when an animated TV series based on the original cartoon began airing, company officials said.
Like Japan's traditional but now unpopular top game "begoma," beyblade competitors spin their tops with the intent of forcing each other out of a small arena.
But unlike begoma tops, which consist of a single piece of iron, beyblade tops are made of plastics to which children may add parts to make them more competitive.
In addition, while a string is used to spin a begoma top, beyblade tops are spun with a special "launcher."