In western Japan, a yearly kite-flying event drew a crowd as children and their families gathered for the tradition on Sunday. Roughly 150 participants, spanning young students and their parents, converged in Hofu, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, to take part in the celebration. Attendees arrived with handmade kites featuring artwork of horses—the next year’s zodiac symbol—and popular game characters, adding a personal touch to the competition.
To advance to the design round, kites had to remain airborne for at least five seconds. With encouragement from their parents, the children reeled in and pulled the lines to send their creations soaring as high as possible. After the flights, the kites were brought down and displayed before a panel of judges who assessed both the artistry and the structural form of each kite.
A sixth-grade participant explained that color choices and shapes were important considerations during the design process. He also shared relief that his kite could stay stable in the air, a sign of careful tuning and practice.
