The Japanese Foil Ball Challenge, also known as the Hikaru Dorodango variant using aluminum foil, became a viral sensation in early 2018 after a Japanese jeweler’s video showcased the process of turning a standard roll of kitchen foil into a mirror-like sphere. The trend emphasizes patience, craftsmanship, and the satisfaction of seeing a messy object transform into a perfect work of art. In meme culture, it is often used as a metaphor for 'polishing a turd,' extreme glow-ups, or the obsessive amount of effort people put into seemingly pointless tasks. Users often pair images of the crumpled foil with the finished sphere to represent the evolution of a project or a person’s skill over time.