 Image search results - "kite," |
One of two giant kitesThis festival has two giant kites and two smaller (but still large) kites. Resting on its side, the kite was scheduled to fly at 2 pm. The kanji characters read "Michi no Eki" in reference to a new train station built in the town.
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Lowering the kite
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Patch up
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Moving the kite to launch point
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Festival siteThey did not allow people go enter the launch area at all times. Spectators were kept far away.
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No people on the sides either
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Launch point on a low hill
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Ride'em cowboyAs the kite quickly flew up, the forward kite pullers had to release the rope.
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Michi no EkiThe kite design is the same every year, but the kanji characters change. They make a new giant kite every year.
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Smaller kite "Yujo"
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"Yujo"This is a smaller kite. It means "Friendship."
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She fell
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Patch up
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"Nakama"This is another smaller kite. It means "Circle of Friends."
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Anchor truck
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Amateur areaFurther downwind was the amateur area for flying normal kites.
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Another launch
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Another beautiful take off
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Poster
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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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Sagami Giant Kite festival is held annually on May 4 and 5 along the Sagami River bank. The site is near JR Sobudaishita (相武台下) on the JR Sagami Line.
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Lean-to shade.
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Rear view
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Entertainment during Sagami Giant Kite Festival
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Take off of a smaller kite
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Take off of another smaller kite
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Successful flight
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Anchor
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Preparing the big one.
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Bamboo poles used to prop up the giant kite.
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Moving the giant kite to launch site
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Spectators watch along the side and rear.
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Sagamihara city is adjacent to Zama city which also held their own giant kite festival on the same day adjacent to Sagamihara's site. This is a launch of Zama's giant kite which soon went back to the ground due to inadequate winds.
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The site is cleared of people before the launch.
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Inadequate winds. The kite struggles to lift off.
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The kite went back down almost immediately after hovering a few feet above ground.
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Panorama of festival site.
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Preparing the giant kite
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Moving the kite to launch point
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Kite pullers
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And we have lift off!
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TakoKites in the shape of an octopus is common because the Japanese word for kite is "tako" which is the same pronunciation for the word octopus in Japanese.
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Guest kite from Yokaichi, Shiga PrefectureThis is a smaller version of their giant kite. Yokaichi (Higashi Omi) also holds a giant kite festival in May.
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Yokaichi's anchor truck
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Beautiful lavendar
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Another launchThey fly the kite a few times during the festival days.
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Rope anchor
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DisassemblyThe paper is actually large strips that can be removed and rolled up.
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