The Shirone Great Kite Battle has been handed down for generations in the Shirone area of Minami-ku, approximately 300 years. In the Summer there is an event in June called “Tako-kichi Matsuri” that is over the Nakanokuchi River. The current of the river runs northward and has winds that can vary, but they both play an important role in keeping kites in the air and assisting in lifting up large kites that makes the event a very thrilling experience.
The Kite Battle consists of one team versus another team. The kites are incredibly large and it takes the entire team to run with vigor in order to gain enough air to rise into the sky, but its ability to stay in the sky depends on the weather with its ever changing air currents. Once the kites are in the air and both teams have their large kites in the air they begin the battle. The two teams clash their kites ropes together as they connect and thats when the battle actually begins. After connecting the two teams will each pull their ropes with haste in a tug of war that begins in the air and ends in the water. The classic chant is “wasshoi, wasshoi” as they participate in this battle of Kite Teams. The battle continues until one of two teams rope breaks, leaving a winner and a loser. Points are gathered to determine how much a team has won by. After a victor has been declared the celebration chant “Banzai” can be heard by the winning team. When all the battling is finished there is a wonderful fireworks display held along the river.
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