Kite Flying in Hitachi City

Kite Flying　(Takoage 凧揚げ)

　　Feeling the wind at your back, your kite is flying up to the white clouds floating in the blue sky. It seems the kite is dancing above you. Kite flying used to be a traditional activity that only took part during the New Year’s Holiday period, but now it takes place at any time all over Japan. So let’s look at the history of kite flying in the Hitachi area..
◆　The Traditional Kite of Hitachi
The Hitachi area has its own variety of kite called the “ yatsu-dako）”, which consists of seven circular kites and one shaped like a heart at the foot of them. This kite was often flown in the fields and on the riversides of the current Momiya-cho and Kuji-cho, Hitachi, during the agricultural off- season from the 1910’s to the 1930’s. After that, this custom went out of practice for a short time. However, yatsu-dako frames from that period were found in this area and were restored in 1958. Recently, the “Yatsu-dako Preservation Group ” has been formed by a group of 20 or so kite-flying fanatics to keep this tradition going.
Mr.Tamotsu Tomioka, the leader of this group, said “our group teaches the making yatsu-dako and sometimes holds kite　flying events at schools and the community centers in order to show people the real pleasure of kite flying”.

◆　The Hitachi Kite Festival
The Hitachi Kite Festival takes place every January in the recreation ground at the mouth of the Kuji River. Anybody can bring their own kites and fly them there. This festival also contains a kite　flying competition. Judging of the competition is carried out mainly by the “Yatsu-dako Preservation Group.” Yatus-dako are more difficult to make and fly than other kinds of kites. The yatsu-dako entered in the competition are judged on their construction and patterns and whether they can fly in a straight line or not. Many different kinds of kites are flown at every festival, such as square kites( kaku-dako), yakko kites(yakko-dako the shape of a footman of olden times), stringed kites (ren-dako), bird-shaped kites (tonbi-dako,) and spinning top kites( koma-dako). Out of these, the kites which are considered to be of the best design or show the most originality are awarded prizes. This year’s festival was due to take place on the weekend of January 15th or 16th, but it was unfortunately rained out.

◆　The History of Kite Flying
Kite flying is believed to originate from China. According to sources, in 3rd Century BC, General in China used to use the kite as a measuring device to measure distances between his own and enemy castles. As it was in 105 that paper was invented in China, naturally from that time on the kite was made of paper. Then, the kite gradually spread over the entire Asian region and even to Europe.

The kite came to Japan in the Heian era (794-1192). As the kite at that time was in the shape of Tonbidako (See illustration), it required a certain flying technique. Kite flying was popular as a special sport among aristocrats. Although the kite was used for fighting purposes in the Kamakura era (1192-1333), only samurai or warriors were allowed use it, so there was not much chance for commoners to practice kite flying.
Over a long period of time, the kite gradually became familiar to ordinary people. During the Edo era (1603-1867), the kite became very popular as a children’s toy and in such fashion spread across the country. In the mean time, the handiwork kite of China and a kite from the Southeast were introduced to Japan through Nagasaki and merged with the original Japanese kite. Such kites have developed to add diversity to the form, design and color of these unique Japanese kites.
Social conditions changed dramatically in the Meiji era (1868-1912) with the arrival of civilization and the enlightenment movement. As a result of the modernization of Japan, it has become increasingly difficult to fly kites out in the open without obstruction, owing to all the intrusive power lines and conglomeration of high-rise buildings. Since the end of the Second World War, kite flying has gradually disappeared from streets corners because of rapid changes in traffic conditions and urbanization.

Recently a “kite flying competitions” are held in open spaces by rivers in various places all over Japan, where speciality kites such as a stringed-kites called Rendako are seen. On these occasions, we can see many young people fly sport kites.