Battle of Great Kites and “Washi” Paper
Ikazaki, Ehime Prefecture, is a town of the clear stream of the Oda River and the Battle of Great Kites. It is now merged into Uchiko Town, but the Great Kite Battle which takes place on May 5th every year, is alive and well. In the Great Kite Battle, hundreds of kites fly in the sky across the Oda River. Each kite is equipped with a blade called “gagari” to cut each other’s thread, and it is such a gallant sight to watch. It has a history of 400 years and is designated as a prefecture’s Intangible Cultural Property.
The material for these kites is the Ozu “washi” paper, which has been made in this region since ancient times. Previously in “Revalue NIPPON “Shimane””, we introduced Iwami region, to which paper making technology was brought by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro. The technology was quickly transmitted across the sea to Ozu region in Iyo. After that, Ozu “washi” paper flourished and in the Edo period, it was regarded as the best “washi” paper in Japan.
Warmth of the handmade products
Tenjin Sanshi which Nakata visited, is a factory founded in the early Taisho Era (1912-1926）. At the beginning of the operation, there were 25 tanks, and at the end of WW2 the number declined to 15 tanks, but it still was the largest handmade paper factory in Japan. Although mechanical papermaking has become the industry’s standard, the factory continues to preserve ancient technology to the fullest, and all employees are certified national and prefectural traditional craftsmen. Tenjin Sanshi’s “washi” paper is used, not only for kites, but for calligraphy paper, “shoji” paper screen paper, covering paper, etc. but among them, calligraphy paper is of the highest quality and quantity in Japan. Currently, there are only two manufacturers of Ozu ”washi” paper in the town, but Tenjin Sanshi is proud of their warmth of handmade products and is working day and night with handmade “washi” paper so as not to turn the lights of tradition off.
