[Winter] Let’s make them together! A roundup of handmade kites
During the long New Year’s holiday, many parents are probably thinking, “If we’ve got the time, why not get moving and play with the kids?” In that case, how about trying a traditional game! In this article, we’ve put together ideas for making homemade kites.
We introduce not only the classic kites beloved in Japan for generations, but also ones you can make with just a plastic bag or A4 paper, and even three-dimensional kites.
Watching a kite you made yourself soar freely across the sky is such a great feeling! It’s the perfect winter activity and a lucky, festive recreation.
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[Winter] Let's Make Them Together! Handmade Kite Collection (11–20)
Eight Kites
Let me introduce the unusual kite known as the “Yattsudako,” made up of eight rings! It’s a traditional kite with a long history handed down in the southern part of Hitachi City.
The frame of the Yattsudako is built by arranging circular ring ribs: two rings across the top, three beneath them, two more below, and finally a heart-shaped piece called the donbin at the very bottom.
Making the Yattsudako, with its complex structure, takes both time and effort.
It’s very durable and lasts a long time.
Thanks to its long history, it’s also highly regarded overseas.
Why not try making one for the New Year?
train of kites
Why not try making a train of kites that boasts an overwhelming presence as the kites float one after another in the sky? First, fix bamboo skewers in a cross so they match the four corners—top, bottom, left, and right—of the plastic sheet.
The key is to attach them firmly so the plastic and bamboo don’t separate.
Next, attach the kite’s tail to the lower part of the body.
Make the tail long enough to sway gently when it’s in the air.
When making a train of kites, it’s also recommended to draw the same illustration on each one or go for vivid, rainbow-like colors.
Be sure to try kite-making as a fun activity you can create and play with together with children.
plastic bag kite
A kite made from a plastic bag—something every household has in stock—is easy to make and highly recommended.
It’s a simple design: shape a plastic bag into a trapezoid and add a frame made of drinking straws.
Reinforce the corners with tape, punch holes there, and thread yarn or similar material through—this is the key step.
Drawing your favorite images, like anime characters, can make it even more fun! You might worry about durability, but it actually flies surprisingly well and reaches a good height.
It’s easy to roll up and store, and you can enjoy its light, fluttering dance in the sky!
kite (traditional Japanese kite, lit. “servant/henchman kite”)
This is a video showing how to make a yakko-dako (traditional Japanese kite).
First, fold the paper into a triangle with a valley fold, then fold it in half once more.
Next, open the paper and fold it into a rectangle.
This time, fold all four corners inward along the creases.
Flip it over and again fold all four corners.
After that, open up the bottom triangle to form a rectangle.
Finally, fold both ends in the same way, and the yakko-dako is complete.
On a cold winter day, I think relaxing under the kotatsu and enjoying some origami is a charming way to spend the time.
Eagle Kite
Perfect for kids who want to make an original, cool designer kite—the Eagle Kite! Prepare a thicker trash bag, cut along the sketch with a utility knife, and first draw the pattern with a marker.
Attach the other cut-out parts with double-sided tape, flip it over, and secure the bamboo skewers with cellophane tape.
Flip it back again, punch a hole, thread the kite string, and you’re done! When making the hole, stick some duct tape on first to prevent the plastic from tearing.
Where the bamboo skewers overlap, use extra tape to secure them firmly.
spinning-top kite
The koma kite is one of Japan’s traditional kites.
As the name suggests, it’s said to be named because it resembles a koma, a classic spinning top toy.
Cut shoji paper into the shape of a koma, paint any design you like, then attach bamboo splints—and you’re done! One of the charms of the koma kite is that it flies stably even without a tail, so you don’t need special flying skills.
If you’ve ever felt, “I made a kite but it didn’t fly well,” or “I couldn’t enjoy it because I didn’t know how to fly it,” give the koma kite a try!
[Winter] Let's make it together! Handmade Kite Roundup (21–30)
indoor kite
An “indoor kite” with a distinctive triangular shape that you can fly indoors.
This one uses a plastic bag as the material.
It looks like the bag’s corner is cleverly used to form the triangle.
After cutting a triangle from the bag, attach one spar down the center and one spar along each of the triangle’s left and right edges, then add one more spar horizontally to connect the edges.
Punch two holes each at the top and bottom of the kite, sandwiching the center spar, thread the string through, tie it off, and you’re done.
It will fly while spinning in circles, so try launching it while skillfully controlling the line.
