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| Bandai Hyper Yo-Yo Jumbo Cards - No. 01 of 08 |
| Exhibit #4524 |
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| Type | Production |
| Size | 210mm tall |
| Width | 148mm |
| Condition | Mint |
| Date | 1998 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
| Compare |  |
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Bandai Jumbo Cards - Hyper Yo-Yo Trick Mark Collection. Released in late July 1998, this collection consisted of eight cards, each priced at 100 yen. These cards were available at official Bandai Hyper Yo-Yo centers throughout Japan, where enthusiasts could demonstrate and pass-off tricks. You could also purchase yo-yos, trick patches, yo-yo coins, and accessories such as drinks, hats, string, carrying cases, shirts, posters, and sweat towels, all Hyper Yo-Yo-branded. The centers were also convenient locations to socialize with fellow yo-yo players in the area.
Each card showcased official trick mark stickers on one side. Most of the stickers corresponded to the three trick levels—Basic, Super, and Hyper—in the Hyper Yo-Yo trick ladder. Each level featured 10 tricks that you could pass off at the store. Some cards, such as #6, also included sticker designs for "extra tricks" that you could try to master for your own personal stretch goals.
Depending on the card number in the series, the reverse side featured either trick instructions, yo-yo product information, yo-yo tips, or suggested trick combinations. For instance, the "Free Trick Combination" on card #4 states, "The key to consecutive tricks lies in the speed and rotation of the yo-yo, which is generated by the snap of the wrist. Practice basic techniques like the Long Sleeper and Loop-the-Loop thoroughly, and skillfully combine moves such as ‘Hop the fence’ and ‘Skin the cat’ to keep the yo-yo spinning without catching it.
The instructions on the card for the stickers was the following:
How to Use Hyper Jumbo Stickers
• Official Trick Mark Sticker: Beneath the sticker surface of the Basic, Super, and Hyper level trick marks. All eight types of Hyper Yo-Yo Jumbo Cards are designed to align with these marks. Arrange the tricks you've mastered in a stylish way and stick them on a Spinner's Box or Spinner's Box Heavy. Compete with friends to see who can complete the set first!
• Jumbo Mark Stickers: You can combine these stickers with various other marks.
See also these other Bandai Jumbo Cards in the series of eight:
• No. 01 - features all ten tricks for Basic Level certification
• No. 02 - features all ten tricks for Super Level certification
• No. 03 - features all ten tricks for Hyper Level certification
• No. 04 - features extra tricks Two Hand Star, Bank Deposit, and Texas Cowboy
• No. 05 - features extra tricks Spider Baby, Space Shuttle, Milk the Cow
• No. 06 - features extra tricks Vertical Loop, Over the Fence, Shooting Star
• No. 07, part 1 - features the Yomega Hyper Mirage yo-yo
• No. 08, part 2 - features seven different Yomega yo-yo models from 1997 and 1998
About the Bandai Hyper Yo-Yo product line and trick levels
The Bandai Hyper Yo-Yo was a popular line of yo-yos that was released in Japan in 1998 and 1999. Their Hyper Dragon models became well-known for their many customizable features (such as body halves, axles, bearings, and weight rings), and use in different levels of play.
When it came to trick progression, with each trick that you passed off at an official Hyper Yo-Yo Certification center in Japan (usually a retail store or toy store), you received a stamp of completion on your Hyper Yo-Yo wallet card. When you completed all ten tricks in a level, you were awarded a prize. The first three jumbo cards in this series featured all 10 tricks in each of the three levels you could attain.
Basic Level
The Basic level is where everyone starts with Hyper Yo-Yo certification. The Bandai yo-yo models in the Basic Level typically featured a simple design with a modified shape and a starburst response system. The basic form of the Hyper Dragon, for example, comes with a Normal Body, Frame Caps, and a Nylon Bearing.
Tricks
1. Long Sleeper (minimum 3 seconds)
2. Walk the Dog (minimum 12 inches)
3. Creeper
4. Forward Pass
5. Break Away
6. Rock the Baby (3x)
7. Rocket (above the head)
8. Elevator
9. Around the World (1x)
10. Loop the Loop (3x)
Super Level
The Super level is a step up and included the Hyper Dragon Aqua yo-yo that was designed for players who have mastered the basics and are ready for more advanced tricks. These yo-yos often have additional features like interchangeable parts for customization, allowing players to adjust the yo-yo to their preferred style of play.
Tricks
1. UFO (both sides)
2. Tokyo Tower
3. Dog Bite
4. Three Leaf Clover
5. Loop the Loop (10x)
6. Brain Twister (3x)
7. Moonsault - Trapeze
8. Stop and Dash
9. Homerun
10. Loop the Loop (30x)
Hyper Level
The Hyper level represents the pinnacle of Hyper Yo-Yo performance. These yo-yos were for advanced players who demanded the best performance and the most options for customization. They may include high-quality metal bearings, weighted rims, aluminum body halves, and other features that allow for a wide range of tricks and styles. See the complete line of Hyper Dragon parts from 1999 in the Hyper Dragon Aqua exhibit.
Tricks
1. Pinwheel (3x)
2. Magic
3. Double or Nothing
4. Side Winder (both sides)
5. Barrel Roll (3x)
6. Moonsault - Back Flip
7. Split the Atom
8. Atomic Fire (2x)
9. Shoot the Moon (3x)
10. Double Loop (5x)
Notice that each level was designed to cater to the skill level of the player, allowing for trick progression as one’s skills improved.
Epilogue...
Bandai's well-thoughtout and well-organized marketing, sales, and promotional strategies among the yo-yoing youth of Japan was a money-making juggernaut for them. It far surpassed anything else that was taking place at the same time in the USA. Between April 1997 and March 1998, Bandai sold about 7 million yo-yos in a little less than a year. In 2024, these many "seeds" planted more than 25 years ago have helped that country to produce the very best yo-yo players in the world. | |
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