Big honkin' kite matsuri! (Sagamihara)

Posted by timothy sullivan (Tokyo, Japan) on 21 May 2009 in Lifestyle & Culture.

As each of the kites weighed in around a ton (900kg) of bamboo and paper, they really were like giant slugs resting on the riverbank, awaiting a steady breeze. As the morning wore on, the wind indeed picked up--and with the blow of a whistle and a mighty, concerted heave, teams angled the kites into a more aerodynamic position--and, after a few attempts, the behemoths (much to my amazement) shot heavenward, where they laid.

Now, the festival itself is quite an experience, and one that is quite difficult to fully capture on film I should say. The Sagami River winds southward, and the kites are launched from several points along the bends of the river, creating a somewhat surreal atmosphere--like something from an anime, where people try to raise the level of the land by harnessing the wind.

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