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Kite flying festival, Japan

Celebrate this!—Takoage-Gassen

The Takoage-Gassen (凧揚げ合戦) , or Kite-Fighting Contest, is a spectacular festival of some 100 large kites (tako)  flying in the sky over the Nakatajima Dunes, Hamamatsu, City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Kite flying festival, Japan. | U.S. Army Garrison Japan

It happens May 3-4.. The Nakatajima Dunes are one of the three largest sand dunes in Japan, which overlooks the Enshunada Sea.

Kite flying, Japan.

Here you can see many large kites measuring 3.5 meters by 3.5 meters (roughly 11 ft. x 11 ft.). Then to the sound of the trumpet, the fighting starts. Making the 5-mm thick hemp strings intertwine, the kite-fliers try to cut their opponents’ strings by friction, which is very exciting to watch.

The strings burn, giving off a scorched smell. You can try flying a kite yourself in the grounds adjoining the shuttle bus terminal.

Kite flying, Japan. | Yoshikazu TAKADA

This festival dates back to the 16th Century when large kites were flown in celebration of the birth of a baby son to the Lord of Hamamatsu Castle. Even today, kites are flown at Hamamatsu when a baby boy is born.

A festive day to pray for boys’ good health and a bright future, it is the custom in Japan to fly decorations called koinobori, which are carp-shaped streamers.

Carp are known to swim up waterfalls and this powerful image of the carp overlaps with the image of advancing in one’s career.

 

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