The Bowl Fifth Anniversary Sakura Edition
The following was Archived from RSO Website:
RSO proudly celebrates its fifth anniversary! Over the past half-decade, RSO has had the distinguished honor of collaborating with some of the most illustrious individuals in the realm of yo-yos. These luminaries include the legendary Sonny Patrick, the remarkable duo Frank and Dom of ILoveYoYo (ILYY), the esteemed Dr. Tom Kuhn, the visionary Brad Countryman, the ingenious Paul Yath, and the iconic Doctor Popular. Creations such as the YWETi (a titanium Side Effects [SE] yo-yo), Doombot (a titanium-brass bimetal yo-yo), Gravity (a titanium SE yo-yo with caps), and Droid (a titanium bimetal Side Effects yo-yo) were pioneering models of the yo-niverse.
On this RSO’s fifth anniversary, it is only fitting to unveil a special edition of “The Bowl,” the yo-yo that initiated RSO’s extraordinary journey into the world of yo-yos on 30 August 2018. Let us reflect upon the events of that remarkable year.
The Bowl marked my venture into yo-yo design, characterized by its simplistic yet elegantly machinable shape, comprising only of arcs. Two compelling reasons dictated the choice of this design. Firstly, I lacked proficiency with CAD software, with Fusion360 being my only tool at the time, as opposed to the more feature packed AutoCAD I utilize today. Secondly, we aspired to craft the yo-yo from titanium, a novel material in the realm of yo-yos at that time, and machinists were somewhat averse to undertaking risky designs. Titanium has since become a staple in yo-yo manufacturing.
Approximately fifteen individuals from the Yo-Yo BST & Talk Facebook group were assembled to collaborate on this yo-yo. While I did not conceive the initial CAD, I undertook the pivotal task of refining it, particularly at the hub and rim, to reach the ultimate CAD. The original CAD featured an eccentric orb-shaped protrusion at the hub, which, through subsequent revisions, was eliminated, and replaced with a few cuts within the hub. Playful monikers such as “The Dong” and “Toilet Bowl” were thrown about during this creative process.
Gradually, I assumed full control over the CAD. The final iteration showcased a sleek bump at the hub, though less conspicuous, strikingly reminiscent of the design elements that ILYY had incorporated into many of their earlier yo-yos. Determining the aesthetically optimal size for this bump was, without a doubt, the most challenging aspect of the CAD design process. Furthermore, the rims were rounded, eschewing any trace of straight lines in the ultimate rendition of The Bowl.
We bypassed the customary prototype phase, proceeding directly to full-scale production. I was exhilarated at the arrival of the consignment of thirty meticulously bubble wrapped yo-yos crafted by Fenghuida Precision Machining (FPM). The playfeel of the yo-yo was nothing short of heavenly, with a perfect balance of weightiness and float. Following the distribution of the yo-yos to the stakeholders of the project, the few dozen remaining were made available for sale. Unexpectedly, they were snatched up in an instant.
Jumping ahead five years, there have been multiple iterations of The Bowl in different editions, materials, and sizes. The full-sized titanium variant has remained the crown jewel, fervently sought after by enthusiasts worldwide.
Excluding B grades, a mere 123 full-sized titanium Bowls are in circulation from the previous OG, Japan Edition, and Udon Edition production runs. With this run of approximately 50 Fifth Anniversary Sakura Edition Bowls, we aim to broaden the opportunity for more players to experience The Bowl.
These are available in two exquisite colors – a captivating rose gold and a pristine clear finish. The rose gold finish was previously done on the non-SE YWETi, while the clear finish looks and feels almost identical to the clear Bowl 7068. Bear in mind that owing to the blasted finish, these yo-yos may exhibit a slightly higher susceptibility to fingerprints when compared to a polished finish.
The Sakura Edition Bowl weighs approximately 1g lighter than its predecessors, tipping the scales at 62.7 grams. Despite the labor-intensive nature of the process, these yo-yos will feature engraved serial numbers.
A select collector’s piece engraved with the words “5 YEARS” and an exquisite sakura emblem on the opposite half will be available.
This narrative would be incomplete without delving into the backstory of The Bowl’s artwork, skillfully crafted by Jason Week. During our brainstorming sessions, we ultimately converged on two main concepts. The first concept was a sloth, adorned with a distinctive bowl cut hairstyle, relishing a bowl of ramen, while the second concept featured a startled customer reacting to an unexpected bowl cut received from his barber. We eventually brought the first concept to life, with the second concept later used for Bowl 7068. The ramen-inspired artwork was then later further refined with introduction of the Japan Edition and Udon Edition Bowls.
In keeping with the ramen theme, I made it a point to carry the color test prototype of the Japan Edition Bowl to all of my ramen outings in Tokyo in 2019.
Due to resource constraints, stickers were printed and affixed to paper boxes for the OG Bowl. The Sakura Edition Bowl will come in a fully printed die-cut box, in line with the more recent RSO releases, promising an even more impressive unboxing experience. ATILA, a distinguished artist and longtime collaborator, was tasked with adding his magical touch to the artwork and accessories.
