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| Bandai Hyper Dragon card - Super Yo-Yo |
| Exhibit #4567 |
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| Type | Production |
| Size | 182mm tall |
| Width | 257mm |
| Condition | Mint |
| Date | 1998 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
| Compare |  |
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A jumbo, full color two-sided card that promoted Hyper Yo-Yo and Hyper Dragon in Japan between 1998 and 1999. It's not clear how this jumbo card was distributed or whether it was sold or given away to kids.
Side A of the card features the character Shunichi Domoto from the anime and manga series "Super Yo-Yo" (Chosoku Spinner or Ultra-fast Spinner), created by manga artist Takashi Hashiguchi. The series was part of the yo-yo craze in the 1990s and closely tied with Bandai's Hyper Yo-Yo line. Shunichi was the protagonist, a talented yo-yo player who embarked on various challenges to master advanced yo-yo tricks. The show and manga were pivotal in promoting yo-yo competitions, teaching techniques, and boosting the popularity of specialized yo-yos like the Hyper Dragon.
Side B of the card explained what Hyper Dragon was, the various customizable parts that were available for Hyper Dragon yo-yos, and five examples of Hyper Dragon yo-yos you could create from the parts.
What was Hyper Dragon?
The Bandai Hyper Dragon Yo-Yo, released in 1998 as part of Bandai's Hyper Yo-Yo line, was a significant collectible during the late 90s yo-yo boom in Japan. The Hyper Dragon yo-yos emphasized customization, offering modular components for players to fine-tune its performance based on their play style. It was particularly well-suited for competitive tricks, featuring options such as weight adjustments and specific axle designs, and body styles. The Hyper Dragon series also had various models, including special editions like Aqua and Fire, catering to enthusiasts seeking different trick-play experiences.
Hyper Dragon Aqua
• Optimized for string tricks with a wing-shaped body.
• Featured a starburst response system to enhance control during complex string tricks.
• Targeted at players focused on precise, advanced trick routines.
Hyper Dragon Fire, Hyper Dragon THP, and Hyper Dragon
• Designed for speed and looping tricks, with a narrower profile.
• Known for responsive play, making it ideal for repetitive, fast loops.
• Its tuning options allowed players to adjust performance for both beginner and advanced looping techniques.
Features across the Hyper Dragon series
• Modular Customization: Players could swap out body halves, bearings, and axles to modify the yo-yo’s weight and response system.
• Performance Flexibility: Models like Aqua and Fire were specialized for different styles (string play versus looping), making the Hyper Dragon series suitable for both 1A (string tricks) and 2A (looping) divisions.
• Competitive Appeal: These yo-yos were frequently used in competitions, thanks to their precision-tuned components.
The Bandai Hyper Dragon line was instrumental in building excitement around competitive yo-yoing during the late 1990s, setting a high standard for modular yo-yos. The yo-yos could also be used at official Bandai Hyper Yo-Yo certification centers to pass off tricks.
About the card and its contributors
The copyright reference on the front of the card, lower-right corner—©Takashi Hashiguchi, Shogakuka, Sho-Pro, Bandai, TV Tokyo—connected multiple entities involved in the creation, production, and promotion of the Hyper Yo-Yo phenomenon.
Takashi Hashiguchi:
• A manga artist known for his contributions to the yo-yo craze through his manga series. He is the creator of "Super Yo-Yo" (Chosoku Spinner), a manga serialized in the 1990s that became a driving force behind the popularity of yo-yos in Japan.
• The series followed a protagonist mastering various yo-yo tricks, inspiring many young people to take up yo-yoing.
Shogakukan / SHO-PRO:
• Shogakukan was a major Japanese publisher that published the Super Yo-Yo manga.
• Sho-Pro (Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions) handled multimedia adaptations and licensing, managing partnerships with companies like Bandai and TV Tokyo.
BANDAI:
• Bandai was the toy manufacturer behind the Hyper Yo-Yo line. They released various models, such as the Hyper Dragon series, to capitalize on the booming yo-yo market.
• Bandai's products, combined with the influence of the manga, fueled competitive yo-yo culture and led to events and tournaments throughout Japan.
TV Tokyo:
• TV Tokyo aired the anime adaptation of the Super Yo-Yo manga, further promoting the yo-yo craze. The show popularized yo-yo tricks and Bandai's products, drawing a wide audience.
Together, these entities helped shape the yo-yo boom of the late 1990s, with each playing a crucial role:
• Hashiguchi’s manga sparked interest.
• Shogakukan and Sho-Pro managed content distribution.
• Bandai developed the actual products (Hyper Yo-Yos).
• TV Tokyo amplified the craze with its anime broadcast, making yo-yos a massive cultural trend in Japan and beyond. | |
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