Zama Giant Kite Festival 座間大凧まつり
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Zama Giant Kite Odako Festival is held annually on May 4 and 5 along the Sagami River from 10 am to 4 pm. They fly the giant kite a few times each day depending on the wind. Nearest train station is Sobudaimae Station on the Odakyu Line. They have shuttle buses between the train station and festival site.
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In May 2019, the giant kite celebrated the new Reiwa Era by having the kanji characters for Reiwa on the giant Zama kite.
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The following photos were taken on May 5, 2005. The site is on a baseball field, very dusty. The site is directly south and downstream from the Sagamihara kite festival site.It was a great idea to hold both kite festivals on the same days. We could see both in one day.
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Corner rope work
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Do not enter sign. In 2004, on a very windy day (almost typhoon strength), Zama's giant kite broke in the air and crashed to the ground onto spectators (who got hurt) on the side, right beyond the carp streamers in this picture. So from 2005, they have become very strict and cordoned off the area where the kite crashed.
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Ready and all clear
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Lift off despite weak winds
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Zama's kite apparently was lighter than Sagamihara's kite because it went up much higher under the same wind conditions.
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The kite pullers can only run so far (about 50 meters or so). After that, if the wind doesn't kick in, the kite falls back down.
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Rope anchor
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Rope anchor
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Entertaiment
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Children's sumo. Zama had a variety of side events.
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Disassembly
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