[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 (31–40)
Nagasaki kite
As its name suggests, the Nagasaki kite was born in Nagasaki Prefecture and boasts a very long history dating back to 1907 (Meiji 40).
Let’s all try making one together.
First, cross the vertical and horizontal spars and secure them with string to create the base.
Apply paste to the washi paper kite, set the frame in place, trim off any excess that sticks out, and be sure to apply plenty of paste to the overlap (glue tab) areas.
Once you’ve done that, fold along the tension thread and it’s complete.
Known also as a fighting kite, the Nagasaki kite offers many fun ways to play.
boneless kite
The easy-to-make “frameless kite” is really appealing, too.
It’s a kite that flies effortlessly on air power, and all you need to make it is to cut a plastic bag and attach pieces with cellophane tape! The key feature is that the plastic is formed into a tube.
The air that fills the tube acts as the frame.
It’s also fun to make your own original frameless kite by coloring the plastic or adding stickers! Try making them with friends or family and see whose kite flies the best—it could be a fun competition!
Fishing rod kite flying
Here’s an idea for a slightly unusual way to fly a kite.
It’s very simple: attach a vertical and horizontal frame to a plastic sheet with any design you like, then tie it to the tip of a fishing rod and the fishing line.
After that, release the reel’s stopper and let it soar into the sky.
It’s easy to handle changes in wind direction or sudden weather shifts, so even small children can enjoy kite flying with ease.
If you like fishing, give it a try! Just be careful not to swing the rod around and bump into anyone.
In conclusion
We’ve introduced lots of handmade kite ideas! Some are easy enough to make with just a single sheet of origami paper.
But seeing them all together like this really shows how deep the world of kites is, doesn’t it? By all means, try making them while having fun together with your children!