About the Giant Kites of Sagami

The Giant Kites of Sagami (Sagami no Odako) are giant kites flown by the Sagami Giant Kite Preservation Association in the Araiso district (consisting of the Shindo, Kami-Isobe, Shimo-Isobe, and Kassaka neighborhoods) of Sagamihara, located in central Kanagawa Prefecture. Every year on May 4 and 5, these neighborhoods fly their kites all at once in an event known as the Sagami Giant Kite Festival.

Various giant kite-flying customs can be found throughout Japan. The Giant Kites of Sagami are square-shaped and have paper sails that can be detached from their frames, an unusual feature among Japanese kites. Of the kites that are flown every year, the Shindo district’s hachiken kite is the largest in Japan. Kite artisans assemble pieces of bamboo to make a curved square frame. They then attach to the frame 16 sheets of paper, each consisting of several sheets of Japanese paper laminated together, which are traditionally decorated with two Chinese characters written in red and green.

History of the giant kites

Giant kites were initially flown as a form of personal celebration for the birth of a child. Gradually, this custom spread across the region and began to represent prayers for a bountiful harvest, expressions of the determination and hope of young people, and even the state of the world, with social factors influencing the titles written on the kites. At one time, the festival was held once every four years. However, deep concerns emerged that kite production techniques would not be adequately passed on and that people would lose the ability to fly the kites. As a result, the kites are now flown every year.

Past Sagami Giant Kite Festival events

The sight of a giant 14.5-square-meter (hachiken) kite soaring in the sky is nothing short of spectacular. Each year, a title chosen by the public is lifted high into the sky. Since kite flying is greatly affected by the wind, observing how the kites move about from year to year is a highlight of the event! At the Sagami no Odako (Giant Kite) Center, you can look at footage and materials from past events.

Please check the link below for information about
previous and upcoming Giant Kite Festival events.

Although the Giant Kite Festival is held only once a year, visitors can learn directly from kite artisans from the Sagami Giant Kite Preservation Association, which produces the largest kites in Japan, and participate in a workshop available year-round to make and fly a mini kite (the sangen kite workshop is offered for a limited time only). See below for more information.

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