This is it! The new signature model for 2004-2005 Japan National 5A champion, Hiroyasu Ishihara, AKA Pon, AKA Pon-sama!
Small but wide, this powerful little yo-yo is the MIID-Y (pronounced M-2-D-Y). It’s the signature model for Hiroyasu Ishihara, the 2004-2005 Japan National 5A (counterweight) champion, but it makes a great choice for all kinds of string tricks, not just 5A.
Based on Turning Point’s popular TP2 design, the MIID-Y has a slightly larger diameter. Thanks to that influence, it has a clearly wide feeling with a little extra power. You can really feel the added stability with even a light throw, which is hard to expect out of such a small package. That aside there aren’t much noticeable differences from its older brother, and if we were pressed to describe the MIID-Y it would probable be as a “lighter TP2,” or we might call the TP2 a “thicker MIID-Y,” but honestly, they are based on very different concepts.
By installing the included side caps you can bump up the weight, so if you prefer a heavier feeling or if you like a smoother balance between your yo-yo and counterweight, you have some extra configuration options.
*Specs are for the yo-yo without the side caps installed. Caps add about 1 gram apiece, for an extra ~2 grams of weight.
*You can remove the side caps with a suction cup (not included)
*Dark Teal colorway is blast-coated
Comment from Hiroyasu Ishihara:
Because I love its playfeel, I’ve used a TP2 for counterweight play for a long time now, but I’ve always wanted just a little more spin and power out of it.
So, leaving that fantastic playfeel alone, we started with my demand for more power, and increased the TP2’s diameter by 2mm, and played with the side face design to allow us to keep the overall weight and width alone. This gave me spin I desired that’s truly impressive for a little wide monometal yo-yo. This also helps keep the yo-yo from tilting during play, giving great stability.
You can also tweak your feeling and weight with the included side caps!
As an added bonus, the revised design muffles the sound of the yo-yo, meaning it’s pretty quiet even when struck by the counterweight, which some 5A players may appreciate I’m sure!
My preferred settings are to swap out the axle for a titanium axle for 5A , and for 1A I leave the default settings but use the side caps. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
