Kites in Japan

1998 Yokaichi O-Dako Matsuri

I had the chance to first attend the Giant kite festival in Yokaichi City, Shiga Prefecture on May 31, 1998.
The largest of the kites flown weighed over 700 kg. ( 1550 lbs. ) was approx 50 feet tall and 35 feet wide.
Made of bamboo and rice paper 17 liters of glue were used to hold the thing together. These giant kites can be seen on display at the Yokaichi Kite Museum. In addition, there was a contest between numerous teams that built their own Yokaichi style kites. The competition included style, launching ability and flying time. Even though everyone made a great effort to build good flying machines some of the kites went down with spectacular crashes. Even the two Oodako eventually fell to earth with a bang. One going into the river, and the other going into the woods. The first was damaged but retrieved. The second was still amongst the trees when it came time for my friends and me to head home.

Men Flying the first Oodako.
Girl affixing her teams number to their kite.
Old woman flies a train of small plastic eddys while watching the Oodako
Yokkaichi kite from behind.
Yokkaichi team with their kite, just before lift off.

Page design by Erdoboy.
Revised: February 02, 2003.