Japanese Kites: Crafts Workshops and Lecture

When
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
7:00 PM
Location
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)

Tuesday, October 22, 2013 7:00pm

Japan Foundation Los Angeles Auditorium

5700 Wilshire Blvd., #100

Los Angeles, CA 90036

This workshop will be conducted by Japanese Kite Master Mikio Toki. He introduces to the history of kites in Japan and talks about the materials and techniques used to build Japanese kites and techniques to decorate the kite in a Japanese style. Then, hands-on workshop that introduce participants to Japan and Japanese culture through the building of a small, traditional Japanese kite made of bamboo and washi (Japanese paper) is followed. Children with guardian is welcomed to participate.

Free admission, but must pre-register.

For more information and to register, visit Japan Foundation's website

Speaker/Instructor
Edo Kite Master: MIKIO TOKI
Member of Japan Kite Association, Edo-Kite Preservation Society, American Kitefliers Association

Born and bred in

Tokyo, where he has been influenced and surrounded by the Tokyostyle of kite since childhood. There are many different types of kites in

Japan

but Toki makes the Edo-Kaku-Dako, which is the Tokyostyle of kite. When he was young kite flying was a popular pastime for children in

Japan

. Now there are very few places to fly a kite in Tokyo. Toki used to fly kites that were bought at a toy store. When he was about ten he made my first kite, it was rectangular kite using traditional Japanese paper (WASHI) and bamboo rods. Toki got the bamboo by splitting a bamboo broom handle. When Toki was 25 years old, he had the opportunity to meet the late Mr. Katsuhisa Ota, his kite master and founder of the Edo-kite Preservation Society, which he is still a member of. In 1975 he began to seriously make the traditional Edo-kites.

The kites Toki currently makes are Edo-Kaku-Dako's, a rectangular kite with many long bridle lines and a hummer, it is made using WASHI (handmade Japanese paper) and bamboo. The pictures are drawn by using Sumi, a black ink, and dyes, to create a stained glass effect when the kite is flown in the sky. Toki has been fond of drawing since he was a child and studied graphic design as a student. Toki believes that drawing the pictures of the traditional Edo-kite, which are inspired by traditional storybooks, Kabuki, and Ukiyoe is an assignment for him and his lifework.

tel (310) 965-9050 fax (310) 965-9010 email info@jas-socal.org