also: トンボだま
noun
glass bead; dragonfly bead
A traditional Japanese glass bead with colorful patterns, often resembling a dragonfly's eye. Used in accessories and craft.
祖母からもらったとんぼ玉のネックレスを大切にしている。
I treasure the dragonfly-bead necklace I received from my grandmother.
この店では、とんぼ玉作りの体験ができます。
At this shop, you can try making dragonfly beads.
Literally 'dragonfly ball'. The name comes from the resemblance of the bead's pattern to a dragonfly's compound eye. The exact origin of the craft is uncertain, but it became popular in Japan from the Edo period onward.