Japanese Fish Kites

Technically Windsocks, But Popular Anyway

Being light-weight, open at one end and closed at the other pretty much defines a wind-sock.

Since these are such a major part of Japanese kite culture I thought they still deserved a page on this site.

In Japan, May 5th each year is a time of celebration for children. Funnily enough it’s called Children’s Day! It used to be for boys only, but Japan has moved with the times so that both boys and girls can enjoy the day now.

On this day, fish kites and streamers are hung from bamboo poles outside people's homes, representing the male occupants. In fact, this goes for poles everywhere around the country, and even from the occasional car aerial! As the wind blows into the mouth of the windsock, the kite wriggles around giving the impression of a fish swimming upstream.

Traditionally, it is the fresh water Carp that is depicted by the kites. The upstream struggle of the fish represented the passage of a boy through to manhood. According to legend, when the carp reached the river source, it became a dragon.

Hence these creations are also known widely as Carp Kites. For the sake of correctness, let's call them Carp Windsocks!

The great photo below shows some pristine and very glossy looking Fish Kites, err sorry, Carp Windsocks. The traditional colors of red and blue are also present, on the far right.

Photo courtesy of Cat.

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