Beginning in June, 2005, one thousand wooden toy tops
(koma) will be thrown into the strong ocean current known as Kuroshio, from the western shore of Yonaguni Island-the Southwestern
Island in Japan. In total, ten-thousand toy tops will be released into the Kuroshio every two months over
a period of 18 months.
The objective of this research is to track which locations the toy tops have washed
up onshore. In each release, the drifting buoy using the Inmarsat satellite will also be used
to collect useful information on the toy tops' location, water temperature, etc.
We will learn about the movements of the drifters into the Kuroshio and the seasonal
and climatic changes of the ocean currents of the Kuroshio over time. As you see in
the picture below, the Kuroshio (the Black Stream) is one of the biggest ocean currents
in the Pacific. One part of the Kuroshio goes into the Sea of Japan and becomes the
Tsushima Warm Current. Thus, many of the toy tops will probably be found on the coastal
areas of Japan facing the Pacific, as well as the costal areas facing the Sea of Japan.
Also, the ocean currents will carry the rest of the drifters to islands and other lands around
the Pacific.
Some researchers have noted that the first settlers in North America arrived by crossing
over the land-bridge now known as the Bering Strait. A bridge of ice was believed to have
connected the Bering Strait between Asia and North America during the last Ice Age.
However, recent research has found that those ancient revelers
may have moved by sea. Indigenous people of the Japanese Jomon period may have crossed the Pacific by riding the
Kuroshio. In fact, potteries similar to those of
Jomon were found in Ecuador, which made some archaeologists think that some of them might have immigrated there.
Researching the places of the stranded toy tops will possibly help us find some clues about
ancient navigation. This experiment can be helpful in terms of ocean pollution as well.
Instructions on the toy tops are written in various languages
such as Japanese, English, Korean, Russian and Spanish.
If you find a toy top (koma), please contact address below.
NIRAI KANAI Group
1-3-12-403 Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku Tokyo Japan
Tel: 81-3-3341-6852 Fax: 81-3-3225-9494
E-Mail addresses:
NIRAI KANAI Office ocean@nirai-kanai.org
Mr.Masakatsu Gondo koma@gondo.com
Dr.Curtis C.Ebbessmeyer curtisebbesmeyer@comcast.net
20060219 The fifth "Toy Tops" released
on 13th February.
20051010-2 Drifting
buoy "Momo" found on the beach of Niijima-Island.
20051010-1 The
third “Toy Tops” and drifting buoy released on 5th October.
20050810 Drifting
buoy "Momo" found on the beach of Yonaguni-Island
20050808 Tops
and drifting buoys released on 1st 1st August, 2005
20050801-2 Tops will be released on
1st August, 2005
20050801-1 Tops released on 1st Jun, 2005