During the Edo period when Japan was closed to all foreigners that most of the beautiful Japanese kites we know today were developed. There are about a hundred different styles and types of kites, each region having its own unique shape. They are normally decorated with characters from Japanese folklore, mythology or have some religious or symbolic meaning. Traditionally kites are flown on boy's day May 5th. At Harvest Festival kites are flown with stalks of rice attached as a symbolic...
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During the Edo period when Japan was closed to all foreigners that most of the beautiful Japanese kites we know today were developed. There are about a hundred different styles and types of kites, each region having its own unique shape. They are normally decorated with characters from Japanese folklore, mythology or have some religious or symbolic meaning. Traditionally kites are flown on boy's day May 5th. At Harvest Festival kites are flown with stalks of rice attached as a symbolic offering of thanks for a good crop. Others are decorated with the face of a demon and would act as a talisman against evil.
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