The Shirone Giant Kite Battle From a series about our Sister City, Niigata Japan by Dr. Stephen Duncan One of the most interesting things that the Galveston-Niigata Taiguruma Project Team visited was the Shirone Giant Kite Battle (and museum). The Shirone Giant Kite Battles are held along the two sides of the Nakanokuchi River in Niigata, Japan. It is said that they began sometime during the Edo period (c.1600-c.1870). One of the locals told me that it started when people from one side of the river built a large kite and were flying it and lost control and it came down on the other side of the river causing damage to the property there. In retaliation the other side built a big kite and flew it to try to do the same. Eventually the competition became almost a sport. The objective is to build the largest, most beautiful kite and use it to capture the other team’s kite. Once entangled a giant tug of war commences with people pulling down the riverbanks and into the towns on both sides. The team which has more of its ropes break is declared the loser. It has become a major event with thousands of spectators and participants and many colorfully dressed teams competing. Teams spend many days building giant kites by pasting together sheets of rice paper and gluing them to bamboo frameworks. These are roughly 15 wide and 20 feet tall. They are attached by many small, hand-woven, hemp ropes to the hand-made, giant tug-of-war rope. Hours of time are spent painting traditional Japanese figures onto the kites, first in black outline and then with vibrant colors. The effect is strikingly beautiful. Enormous works of art take flight with teams running down the riverbanks to get them aloft. Once airborne, they try to entangle their kite with the other team’s kite and drag it down to the water. When they hit the water, the rice paper crumbles and the tug of war begins. A large log shaped roll is placed under the rope so that it is not cut on the riverbank as the teams pull back and forth across the river. Smaller octagonal kites also battle across the river, but the Giant Kites draw the most attention. This year the weather in June was so good that several teams ran out of kites and had to build new ones overnight to compete on the last day. These were only outlined in black because the watercolor paints did not have time to dry properly. The Galveston Taiguruma Team members were allowed to wear the Hapi Coats of the Organizing Committee. We were VIPs. Several of us took a chance to join one of the teams and pull on the great ropes. The photo attached shows our translator Zach and myself heaving away. Our tug of war was declared a draw. If you are in Niigata during June, make sure you visit the Shirone Great Kite Battle. Any other time of the year be sure to visit the museum which features an incredible array of traditional Japanese kites. Dr. Stephen Duncan Director of Fine Arts GISD Taiguruma Project GISD
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:04:01 +0000
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