2002 Yokaichi Odako Kite Festival

May 26, 2002
 



You know your kite is big when.....

You and 10 of your friends can escape the sun under the arc of the kites wing and you still have room left over for friends. With the lack of good flying wind on this day there little else to do but to escape the heat of the noon day sun under the kite that would not, could not fly.

  

 

The massive bridle for a kite 60 times the size of yours must also be 60 times larger

Famous and Unique

This handi-work of Matsutani-san was a present to me from the kite master. Kite master Hideo Matsutani of Akashi (at left) marches to his own drummer even when he relaxes. From what I know of Matsutani-san, it was NOT an accident that he wore one red sock and one black sock.
German kite maker shares pins and greetings with Mr. Hashimoto of OsakaNot sure what these girls thought they were going to be doing, but from their attire, kite flying seems an unlikely choice. A familiar face at all kite festivals. The line winder in his hands is to scale to the size of the kite he is flying.

One of the amazing things for me, is that at many kite festivals the number of cameras and camera equipment present rivals major US sporting events. I like kites but half the time even I cannot figure out what they are shooting pictures of or for what reason. It also amazes me that I am so often the the subject of photos.  All I have to do is hold a small kite and start assembling it and wham! the press corps descends. From the way they react you would think I was teaching the secret of alchemy. (by the way, I can share this with you, but it will cost you...)