“The oldest mention of a kite in Japanese documents occurs in the Bizen Fudoki (Ancient records of the culture and geography of Bizen Province), written in 713” (Modegi, Masaaki. The Making of Japanese Kites: Tradition, Beauty and Creation. Japan Publications Trading Co., 2007, pp. 8).

“It is thought that kites were first introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks who came from China in the Nara period (710-794 CE).”

Historical documentation of the role that kites played in Ancient China lead many to believe that kites held great spiritual connotations. Kites were not meant for child’s play, but for a form of worship. Different regions, religions, and cultures valued their own kite traditions throughout Chinese history.

For example, kites emerging from the Edo period of Japan’s history, roughly 1603 – 1867, became a symbol of male trouble. One famous design from this era is the Edo Kaku-dako, translated as “Warrior Watanabe no Tsuna fighting off a demon at Rashomon gate.”

In modern day Japanese kite culture, the evolution of these soaring miracles continues. From worldwide kite festivals to Japanese kite battles to traditional integrity in the kite craft of today, we see that the kite has impacted our society more than many of us ever thought to give credit for.