On a Friday afternoon inside a school hall, Daniel Keung Tsz-chung proudly opened his toy box to reveal a prized collection of more than a dozen Beyblades. Then, the 10-year-old tugged a cord, launching his custom spinning top into the plastic arena.
The Primary Four pupil had locked into a fierce battle with two of his classmates.
At Lions Clubs International Ho Tak Sum Primary School in Tin Shui Wai, Beyblade tournaments have become a regular breaktime sight.
The spinning top is a nostalgic childhood toy for many older Hongkongers. It was first released in 1999 by Japanese toy company Takara.
Today, the old-school craze has made a comeback, with a new spin. Arenas have popped up across Hong Kong, attracting players ranging from primary school-aged children to full-grown adults.
Daniel has been an avid fan for three years. He has invested in his passion. His crown-jewel Beyblade costs around HK$700, while his entire collection is worth nearly HK$4,000. But the real value of the game for him is the human connection.
“Spinning tops can keep people from getting addicted to their phones and help build really great friendships,” Daniel said.
He attends official regional-level Grade 3 (G3) tournaments. These monthly tournaments are held at Beyblade Battle Base-sponsored stores.
Nine-year-old Cheung Chun-nok is also a pupil at the same school. He shared that since he started playing Beyblade a few weeks ago, he has used his phone less.
Education should be engaging
Daniel and Chun-nok’s school uses a Finnish-style education model that focuses on activity-based learning.
“Being able to play outside and connect through a shared interest – something everyone plays together – naturally sparks communication,” the school’s principal, Wong Wai-la, said.
He offered a timely reminder that education for young children should be engaging, not agonising.
“We need to remember these are primary school students,” he said. “Do we need … such immense pressure on them starting [from] primary school?”
Wong said schools should recognise multiple intelligences: “Everyone has their own strengths. When children are engaged in things they love or excel at, you can truly see their inner drive.”
Learning with Beyblades
Wong said Beyblades are excellent vehicles for teaching science. While they seem like toys, the game can act as a mobile laboratory. It helps students grasp abstract physics concepts.
The school is turning the playground craze into a practical academic tool. It has added Beyblades into its new Primary One and Primary Four science curricula.
The Primary Four curriculum focuses on fair testing and friction. So Wing-sum, the school’s science panel head, said that spinning tops align with these scientific principles.
“[For example], there is contact friction between the top and the arena, which is why it ultimately comes to a halt,” So explained.
Resilience through play
Hong Kong has an intense academic environment. The educators believe the toy can actually build emotional resilience. It also teaches children the ability to handle failure.
“You see yourself lose instantly,” So said. “Some children do cry, but I believe this is a valuable experience for them to have at a young age, learning that even if they lose and cry, they can pick themselves up and try again.”
Principal Wong noted that this resilience is necessary for a generation shaped by technology and isolation.
“Many of them are ‘only children’ growing up in a digital era, so they tend to keep to themselves,” Wong said. “Some students who are usually very quiet will talk endlessly when it comes to something they love.”
