Takoage-gassen

凧揚げ合戦

“kite-flying battle”

Takoage-gassen is the largest kite festival in Japan. It can be traced back to the 16th century and takes place annually in early May in the immediate vicinity of the dunes of Nakatajima in Hamamatsu City. In the competition associated with the local Suwa shrine, which today involves hundreds of participants from 150 districts (chô), monstrous and colourful kites (tako) handmade from bamboo and paper are flown on thick fibre ropes by almost a dozen men.