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Through the centuries, no nation has embraced kites more enthusiastically than Japan. Buddhist monks probably brought kites to Japan from China and Korea between the sixth and eighth centuries. Early Japanese kites were probably flown for religious purposes. The basic rectangle of the Chinese kite evolved into many new shapes like dragons, fish, birds, turtles and more. As late as the seventeenth century kites were still associated primarily with religious activities. They were flown to ensure a good harvest, as thanksgiving for a good harvest, as charms against illness and bad luck, and to congratulate new parents.
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During the past three hundred years, much of the religious significance of kite flying has been replaced by secular pleasure. A New Year’s kite means as much to a Japanese child as a birthday present means to a Western child. Another kite flying activity that caught on in parts of Japan as well as other Asian countries is kite fighting.
A fighter kite is usually small and highly maneuverable. The line is coated with a paste of cooked rice, tree gum and powered glass, sharp sand or even knife blades. The object of the fight is to cut an opponents line and send his kite crashing to the ground. The winner quickly reenters the fight, as there are usually hundreds of battles occurring simultaneously.
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