“Tako”, written with the kanji 凧, is the Japanese word for what English speakers call a kite.
Interestingly, the English word kite originally referred to a bird of prey—the black kite—whose graceful, effortless gliding across the sky makes the name feel perfectly fitting.
So what, then, is the origin of the Japanese word tako?
Surprisingly, it comes from the octopus.
In Japanese, tako is first and foremost the word for an octopus.
Traditional Japanese kites often have a rectangular body with long, trailing strips attached to the bottom. Their appearance reminded people of the shape of an octopus, and over time the name tako was borrowed to refer to kites as well.
Today, tako is the standard word for a kite, but in earlier times they were also known as “ika”—meaning squid. It is a small, amusing detail that even many Japanese people are unaware of.
Kite flying is a popular pastime in Japan, and various kite festivals are held across the country. Among them is a particularly unusual event in which enormous kites are flown—and then deliberately entangled—before the contest shifts into a full‑scale tug‑of‑war.
Let us take a look at this remarkable festival.
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🪁 The Shiroine Giant Kite Battle
The Shirone Giant Kite Battle takes place along the banks of the Nakanokuchi River in Shirone, a district in the southern part of Niigata City. It is a competitive kite‑flying event in which teams on the east and west banks face each other across the river.
Each giant kite measures roughly 7 metres tall and 5 metres wide—large enough to park three cars on if laid flat on the ground. These massive kites are slowly raised into the sky from both sides of the river.
Dozens of people are needed to haul each kite into the air, including local residents and visiting participants. Even with so many hands, lifting a kite weighing up to 50 kilograms is no easy task once it catches the wind.
What makes the event even more fascinating is that the kites are intentionally designed to behave differently.
The east‑bank kites (Shirone side) are built to drift sideways, while the west‑bank kites (Nishi‑Shirone side) are adjusted to rise high and then swoop down in a spiralling descent.
When both sides launch their kites at just the right moment, the two inevitably collide and become entangled, eventually crashing down into the river.
And this is where the real battle begins.
🪁 From kite flying to tug‑of‑war
Kites are normally delicate structures, but the giant kites of Shirone are surprisingly sturdy.
Once they fall into the river, the paper covering tears away, yet the framework remains intact.
The tangled remains of the kites hang suspended over the water like symbols of the two teams’ determination. From here, both sides pull with all their strength, turning the event from kite flying into an all‑out tug‑of‑war.
With townspeople and visitors shouting encouragement from both banks, the contest continues until the rope connecting the kites snaps or one side manages to pull the wreckage to their bank.
Japan has long‑standing competitive kite traditions such as “kenka‑dako” (fighting kites), seen in places like Hamamatsu and Nagasaki, where the aim is to cut the opponent’s line with precision and skill.
Compared with those highly technical contests, the Shirone Giant Kite Battle is a more expansive, communal spectacle—grand, powerful, and driven by the collective effort of many hands.
🪁 Origins of the tradition
This unusual town‑wide custom has several origin stories.
One account says that during the mid‑Edo period, people on the east bank (Shirone) flew a kite to celebrate the completion of repairs to the river embankment. The kite fell onto fields on the west bank (Nishi‑Shirone), damaging crops. Angered, the west‑bank residents built a kite of their own and deliberately dropped it onto the east side in retaliation.
Another story tells that during the Genbun era of the Edo period, a kite presented by the local lord was flown and accidentally crashed onto a house across the river, causing damage and sparking a similar exchange.
Whatever the truth, it is striking that instead of resorting to violence, both sides chose to “fight” by making and flying kites.
The fact that this playful rivalry has continued as a tradition for nearly three centuries speaks to the strong bonds between the two communities.
🪁 A festival for the whole town
In addition to the main giant‑kite battles, the festival features children’s kite contests, parades, photo competitions, and various related events.
Both sides of the town are in full festival mode throughout the period.
Nearby, the Shirone Kite and History Museum offers exhibitions of traditional Shirone kites as well as kites from around the world. The museum even includes a wind‑tunnel room where visitors can build their own kites and test them indoors—an unmissable experience for kite enthusiasts.
After enjoying the thrilling spectacle of giant kites soaring and clashing in the sky, the museum makes a perfect place to relax and explore the deeper history of the craft.
🪁 Official Information
Shirone Giant Kite Battle – Official Website
– Dates: 4–8 June 2026
– Time: Battles begin at 1:00 p.m.
– Location: Nakanokuchi River embankment, Minami Ward, Niigata City
(between Tako‑mi Bridge and Shirone Bridge)
– Organiser: Shirone Giant Kite Battle Executive Committee
Shirone Kite and History Museum – Official Website
Note:
The event is highly dependent on wind conditions.
Kite‑flying may be cancelled on the day if the weather or wind direction is unfavourable.
