Kites: Paper Wings over Japan

No one knows for certain when the first kite was created. China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands are often cited as possible locations of this remarkable invention, which is certainly two thousand or more years old. Whatever their precise birthplace and date, kites were first documented entering Japan from China via Korea in the first millennium A.D. From the beginning, the kite was for the Japanese a vehicle of wonder and art, and a celebration of joy. This delightful book surveys the art of creating and flying Japanese kites. Following a brief history of these kites from their origins to the present, the book takes a close look at the characteristics and anatomy of kites and at the roles they have played in Japan's culture through the centuries. An interview with Tezio Hashimoto, a contemporary master of kite making, and brief profiles of six young kite makers show how the ancient art of making kites is kept alive in modern-day Japan. Throughout the book are marvelous examples of classic and contemporary kites, all specially photographed and beautifully reproduced in full color. Information on where to view and to buy Japanese kites and a glossary of kite terms make this an essential book for anyone interested in the world of kites.

This elegantly designed, unusually formatted book packs a surprising punch in just 96 pages. Kites surveys the ancient art of constructing and flying Japanese kites, from the classic to the contemporary. The thorough treatment includes discussions of traditions, lore, materials, anatomy, history, and aerodynamics of kite flying. Included are instructions for making and flying one's own kite, as well as a glossary of terms, profiles of famous kite-makers, and lists of Japanese kite festivals, Japanese kite associations, and museums around the world. The delicate integration of illustration and type make this highly accessible text as easy on the eyes as the lush, full-color kites that seem to fly from the pages at every turn.