Mike Northcott
Beyblade is a Japanese spinning top toyline and multimedia franchise created by Takara, drawing inspiration from the traditional beigoma toy. The product line launched in 1999 in Japan alongside an accompanying manga series, initially marketed under the titles "Spin Dragoon" and "Ultimate Dragoon." Following Takara's 2006 merger with Tomy to form Takara Tomy, the franchise became the responsibility of the merged company. The brand has achieved global reach through licensing agreements with major toy distributors, including Hasbro for Western markets and Sonokong for South Korea, establishing Beyblade as an international phenomenon.