High Flying

for gambling.

“I came to know that kite flying and playing with tops is very common in India as in Japan and is a memory of everyone’s childhood. People play with them even now. This similarity between Indian and Japanese culture prompted me to bring this vast and beautiful collection of Japanese kites and tops to India,” says Yusuke Matsuoka,Director of Arts and Cultural Exchange Program,Japan Foundation Delhi.

A wall-to-wall paper kite greets us as we enter a colourful exhibition of nearly 80 kites and 50 tops. Most kites use bright colours and have masks,fruit baskets,insects and frogs painted on them. The bigger kites have demonic faces with darker colours,used in ancient times to mostly ward off evil spirits. A well-lit table sported wooden tops,of many categories: twisted,rubbed,string and thrown tops. They are meticulously painted shaped as little dolls,and pots and utensils.

Kite-flying is considered to be a marker of many festivals in Japan. May 5 is celebrated as the Boy’s Festival every year in Japan,where a new-born boy’s name is painted on kites and flown. A high-flying kite is considered a good omen for the family. Space constraints in urban Japan has seen a decline in this traditional pastime,but some Japanese schools are now incorporating the art in their curriculum. “We’re now seeing a small renaissance of this tradition. Many new and original kite-designs are being created each year,” reads the exhibition note.

The exhibition will be held at The Japan Foundation,till November 29. Contact: 2644 2971