Kishis Co., Ltd. (Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture), a wholesale importer of festival toys, balloons, and party goods founded in 1946, is following up on its "Yoyo Balloon Sparkly Heart Pink Assort" — a water yoyo that became a nationwide hit at festivals after its 2024 release — with a second entry in the series, "Yoyo Balloon Sparkly Star Blue Assort." The new version keeps the nostalgic charm of the classic water yoyo while adding a clear, glittering "neo" look that can be won through yoyo fishing at festival stalls.
A Long History of Water Yoyo Booms
Japan's first water yoyo is said to have been made around 1933. Rubber controls imposed during World War II restricted the raw rubber used for rubber balloons and water yoyos, both hugely popular before the war, but production resumed once the war ended in 1946. With few other forms of entertainment available to children at the time, water yoyos sold at festivals, street fairs, and fireworks shows quickly became a nationwide boom.
More on the history of the water yoyo
The Role of a Long-Established Festival Toy Wholesaler
Kishis was founded in 1946, then known as Kishi Gomu Shoten, the same year balloons and water yoyos began flying off the shelves, and it has served as the link between toy manufacturers and the street vendors who sell them ever since.
By gathering sales feedback from vendors and relaying it back to manufacturers, the company became a trusted partner to both sides. Over time, that role grew into a broader mission of creating a new festival toy boom every summer that brings joy to everyone, from the children who play with the toys to the manufacturers who make them, a mission the company still carries on today.
Preserving Tradition While Trying Something New
The water yoyo's look and traditional pattern have long made it an icon of Japanese festivals, loved not just as a toy but as a motif in its own right, and the recent retro boom has drawn fresh attention to the nostalgic feeling of festivals. Kishis reimagined this classic, Showa-era toy for a new generation by combining it with the confetti-filled stick balloons that became a hit in the company's balloon business, aiming to spark a new water yoyo boom at Reiwa-era summer festivals.
Attention to Detail
Wanting a high-quality yoyo body, Kishis sourced the balloons from manufacturer Suzuki Latex, then hand-picked only the color patterns that looked best once inflated from a wide selection, testing each one against more than 20 kinds of confetti to find combinations judged genuinely cute. The elastic string got the same care: Kishis commissioned a trusted rubber manufacturer to produce it in a specified pink color, resulting in a water yoyo built around careful choices at every step.
Product Overview
Yoyo Balloon Sparkly Star Blue Assort, Pack of 50
Suggested retail price: Open price
Contents: 50 confetti-filled yoyo balloons, 50 pink elastic strings, 50 snap clips, 1 snap stand
The set is designed for festival stalls, summer festivals, and yoyo fishing at community, neighborhood association, and corporate events alike, offering a fresh twist on a familiar game that should appeal to kids as well as anyone who loves "kawaii."
Note: the package includes printed instructions and a QR code linking to a video guide.
Yoyo Balloon Sparkly Heart Pink Assort, Pack of 50
Suggested retail price: Open price (a hit product since its 2024 release)
Contents: 50 confetti-filled yoyo balloons, 50 pink elastic strings, 50 snap clips, 1 snap stand
Note: the package includes printed instructions and a QR code linking to a video guide.
Where to Buy
Kishis Party Store, Nagoya (physical store)
Online Shops
Omatsuri Tonya no Kishi Gomu, Rakuten store
Omatsuri Tonya no Kishi Gomu, Yahoo! store
From the Developer
In comments about the project, the product's developer described being drawn to water yoyos since childhood for their distinctive colors, wavy pattern, and the sound of water splashing when hit by hand, saying they capture the feel of a Japanese summer festival. The developer expressed hope that yoyo fishing with the new water yoyo will spread to festivals nationwide, becoming another chapter in the history of festival play, and that Kishis will keep creating new booms as a leader in the festival toy industry.
About Suzuki Latex, the Collaborating Water Yoyo Manufacturer
Suzuki Latex was founded in Kameido in 1921 and began manufacturing yoyo balloons in 1950. It achieved Japan's first automated production in 1982, and its yoyo balloons remain a festival and event staple today. As the oldest surviving yoyo balloon manufacturer, it now sells its balloons under the YOYO BALLOON® name in 20 countries around the world.
