In many classrooms in China, it’s not difficult to find students spinning* their pens with one hand while listening to lectures.

Pen spinning*, often considered a form of self-entertainment especially popular in schools, has however given rise to competitions.

At the end of March, a grand pen-spinning competition was held in Tokyo, Japan. Ryuki Omura, a 16-year-old Japanese high school student, became the first national pen-spinning champion.

Omura was among the 16 finalists* chosen from 276 video entries* to showcase his skills in the contest organized by the Pen Spinning Association of Japan.

“The most important thing is to make the combination of tricks* as smooth as possible,” said Mitsuhiro Nakamata of the association.

Contestants, performing for 30 seconds in front of a crowd of 400 including journalists and other pen-spinning fans, were assessed* for technique and artistry.

Toy maker Takara Tomy Corp. has even designed a pen specifically for spinning, which is longer than ordinary pens and has adjustable* weights on both ends.

According to the Pen Spinning Association’s Web site, spinning tricks range from “normal” — resting the pen on the side of the middle finger, then moving it to writing mode — to “sonic” — holding the pen between the middle and ring fingers, and then spinning it so it rests between the middle and index fingers*.

Champion Omura went a step further, showing off a quick combination of tricks that takes the pen from his little finger to the rest of his fingers, then to his palm and the back of his hand. The video clip* he submitted* for the contest is posted on the group’s Web site (http://ptj2008.pen-spinning.org/).

(SD-Agencies)