Following the 2008 global financial crisis, Japan suffered a severe recession that even impacted its reputation as a "manufacturing country" and brought a bleak outlook upon the many factories in small towns that largely support that industry. With oil on their hands and sweat on their faces, the factories were told not to lose faith and began participating in “Koma Taisen" (Japanese spintop tournaments) to build morale in between jobs.

Workers at the small-town factories drew up plans, turned on the lathes, created pieces of metal, and began building, of all things, spintops! With the goal of defeating Kurita Techno, the third-place winner in the national tournament at the time, many factories participated in the tournaments with their best spintops.

One of those was Shion (from Mino in Gifu Prefecture in central Japan) which, although competing for the first time, found itself in position to contend for first place at the national tournament after placing second at regionals. While the 7 staff members at Shion were normally making airplane parts, the president put all his effort into guiding his team towards the creation of better spintops.

Now in the race for the top position, and competing on the same level as the usual tournament powerhouses, they try to thrive in the experience as they are surrounded by unique materials, shapes, and other prime contenders participating with a new and clear manufacturing vision!

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