THE BLACK MOON
ART, ANIME, AND JAPANESE CULTURE
WEBLOG KIMONO FILM REVIEWS JAPANESE COOKING LINKS
 
I M A G E   O F   T H E    M O N T H !
The kite first appeared in China well over 2,000 years ago, and arrived in Japan sometime in the Heian period (794-1185). Like most things made of paper the Japanese kite or tako, originally played a part in Shinto religious ritual. Tako were believed to be intermediaries between heaven and earth.

Tako became extremely popular with children during the Edo period (1600-1868). Competing with tako in the strong winds of winter months became a favored pastime. By the 17th Century adults could no longer resist the pleasures of kite flying. Tako gradually increased in size... to show the strength of their handlers, and great tako battles were staged between opposing teams!

Competition battle kite
Competition battle kite
Competition battle kite
Competition battle kite
In the cities of Nagasaki and Hamamatsu, where these tako battles have traditionally been held, it is not uncommon to see battle teams of up to forty people handling a single giant kite like the one shown above. However, outside the tradition of battling kites... many people today enjoy collecting if not flying the beautiful paper creations. Tako come in all shapes and sizes, and are hand painted with gorgeous images ranging from Samurai, Geisha, and religious figures, to demons, birds, insects, sea creatures and mythological animals.