JAPAN’S GIANT KITE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 236, 5 October 1935, Page 10 (Supplement)

JAPAN’S GIANT KITE.

OUTTUGS 200 MEN. THE LARGEST EVER MADE A QUARTER-TON OF SKY SAIL. (By KIMPEI SHEBA.) Villagers of Zama, near Tokyo, known from ancient times as great kite flyers, recently have outdone themselves by making and flying what is believed to bo the biggest kite ever to take to the air. With surface area of 770 square feet, this giant hcavier-than-air craft weighs 5811 b, or more than a quarter of a ton, and requires 200 husky young men to hold it steady while it is in flight. To watch the long line of men pull at tho lino reminds one cf a tug-of-war. Tho ropo is an inch and a half in diameter and is drawn taut as kite and men tug away against each other. Sometimes tho kite, helped by a sudden gust, gets tho best of the men.

Half a dozen of the huskies at the end of tho lino nearest the kite are actually swept off their feet and carried into the air as great a distance sometimes as ten feet. As they let go of the rope the next half dozen men are in turn pulled into the air. Suddenly the kite pulls the rope taut and all the men are forced to let go. From Three to Five Tails.

Fortunately, the end of the rope is safely fastened to a long pine log, which in turn is weighted down by 50 bags of rice, each weighing 1471 b, or a total of 73501 b. The kite tugs away with all its might, but in vain, and as the wind lets down the men resume their positions.

Like most Japanese kites, this one is square and has from three to five tails, depending on the velocity of the wind. The length of each tail is 203 ft The giant of the skies is made by putting up a framework of bamboo. The main frames are of bamboo so large that it is barely possible for a man to encircle them with his hands. Several of these bamboos are tied together until tho required length is obtained.

Tho main frames are joined by a network of smaller bamboos. These in turn form the framework for narrow strips of bamboo about an inch in width, which aro criss-crossed. As in the case of ordinary kites, tho strips and main frames aro fastened together by strings. “Dressed” With Paper.

Also as in the case of smaller kites paper is used as covering, but the paper is of a special variety made in Japan, and is as tough as cotton cloth. It is not pasted on to the framework, but “dressed.” There are about 20 sheets, each about 10ft square, and these have strings attached to them about a foot apart. These sheets are fastened to the framework one by one just before the kite is flown. These sheets are called tlie kite’s dress, and most big kites have at least two dresses. One dress is used for ordinary flights and the other for special occasions. On these special occasions tens of thousands of people come from the neighbouring villages as well as Tokyo to watch the kite-flying festival.

Making the kite is a task in itself, but flying it is still more difficult. For one thing, it can be flown only in a south wind. Like some of the world’s great artists, tho world’s biggest kite is temperamental. The reason is that a wind blowing from the south is steady and does not come in guests like winds from other directions, particularly from the north. Need of Steady, Strong Breeze. As in the case of ordinary kites, you cannot wait for a sudden gust of wind to pull the kite up. The moment the gust stops, the giant kite, which weighs a quarter of a ton, drops like a piece of lead. The 200 men pulling at the rope may be rimningjit top speed, but because of the size of the kite they are moving relatively as slowly as a caterpillar. Consequently what is needed is a steady, strong breeze. The kite is carried to the flying field, which is a plateau between two ranges of mountains, dressed and then laid flat on the ground. After the tails and cords have been adjusted, and it is ready for flight, the kite is gradually raised until it comes to an angle of about ”90 degrees. At this point the men at the other end of the line commence tugging away. Slowly' the giant of the skies commences to rise.

When a particularly strong wind is blowing the kite is not fully dressed. Some of the sheets are not attached, and the number thus laid aside depends on the velocity of. the wind.