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May 12 2006 4 Comments

Colossal kite

When it comes to wind-assisted wooden-framed flying contraptions, there are kites and then there are kites. This almost certainly being one of the latter.

big kite

The trouble is, due its size and considerable weight, a bit of string here and there to get the beast airborne and under control is far from sufficient. A situation that means the job of chief untangler is a decidedly undesirable one — patience and perseverance being very much the order of the day.

japanese kite

Still, with everything prepared and a large team at the helm, it actually flew.

huge kite

Quite high too.

traditional kite

And perhaps even more surprising is that those in charge managed to bring the thing down safely, rather than have it career out of control and terrify startled spectators.

japanese kite

Which, admittedly, was ever so slightly disappointing.

Categorized: Culture, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. homebru says

    5/13/2006 at 11:35 pm

    Do they still hang the champion kite in Ueno train station?

    Reply
  2. Lee says

    5/14/2006 at 3:10 pm

    I’ve no idea Homebru, never heard of that before.

    But it did seem to be a contest of sorts, so maybe.

    Reply
  3. homebru says

    5/15/2006 at 1:22 am

    In the fifties and sixties, there were village-against-village kite flying contests using the large kites such as you show. I don’t remember the details of the competetion, but the champion kite was displayed for a week, high overhead in the main hall of the Tokyo or Ueno train station.

    I was through both stations on a regular basis in the mid-sixties and don’t remember in which one I saw the kite.

    Reply
  4. Stories says

    5/16/2006 at 5:05 am

    Just what you want to come crashing down on your head when your out and about on a nice sunny day..

    Reply

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