Kites in Japan

The Japan Kite Story / Tako in the sky with Diamonds

Festivals I've Attended   -  JUST ADDED  2002 DAIMON PICS Just ADDED 2002 YOKAICHI O-Dako PICS

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Page design by Erdoboy.
Revised: May 26, 2004.

General overview of Kites in Japan

As you might know kites have a proud and storied tradition in Japan. For many hundreds of year, since long before the Edo period, the arrival of a new baby boy into a family was marked by the giving of kites as presents. In addition to this there are certain times of the year when kites are flown as part of local tradition. Japanese kites tend to reflect the availability of the material found in Japan. The traditional Japanese kite style is a vertical rectangle made of  special hand made paper ( washi ) and bamboo. The Japanese word for kite is tako. A giant kite is referred to as an Oodako. At new year ( O shogatsu )  there are many kite festivals.

Throughout  most of the spring you can somewhere find a town having a kite day. But without question the greatest number of these festivals or "matsuri" for kites are held during "golden week." ( approx. April 28 ~ May 5 ). During this period which sees the celebration of Children's Day ( May 5),  these kite festivals flourish all over Japan.

When not out cruising the skies of Japan, Edo Fackler can be found under his futon in Sakai City, Osaka Japan.
Drop him a kite-line at kites@erdoboy.com 日本語も大丈夫です。

Festivals I have Attended