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About Taco'pe

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Artifact Information

Artifact NameHadano good luck tako : Kite
Introduction Tako are similar to the kites first brought to Japan from China during the Heian era (around 794), but they are different in some ways. They are made from bamboo frames covered in washi (Japanese handmade paper), using braided cord to preserve an appropriate shape and arch. Then, by pulling a string, the user can give it lift and send it up into the sky. Originally, tako were considered tools for sending people's joys, sorrows, and wishes to the gods; but nowadays, they are flown mainly for good luck on New Year's day and during seasonal festivals.
History
1974-76
Recreating 74 styles of famous, discontinued tako (kites) from all over Japan
1974-81
Winner of fifth Enoshima tako-flying competition
Winner of Aomori tako-flying competition
1984
Good luck daruma tako Selected as one of Kanagawa's 100 greatest local products
1985
Good luck daruma tako Selected as an official Japanese gift/souvenir
1987
A tako shop recreation in Los Angeles that is receiving rave reviews
1995
Winner of national tako artisan championship
1999-
Donates a good luck daruma tako to the Meiji Shrine every year
2000-
Donates a zodiac tako to the Meiji Shrine every year

Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine

Master Asami

The Traditional Craftsman Profile

Craftsman Name
Craftsman Seiichi OnishiTakara Asami
Career
  • Born in Hadano, Kanagawa Prefecture
  • Learned the craft under his father
  • Good luck daruma tako were chosen as an official Hadano brand name
  • Donates a good luck daruma tako & zodiac tako to the Meiji Shrine every year
  • Arranges presentations and displays at famous department stores and galleries all over Japan
Introduction Originally, Japanese tako (kites) were used in a method of fortune-telling based on the Chinese zodiac.　Even today, tako are still flown at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as part of religious rituals.　People can better convey their wishes using Japanese tako by learning the origins and meanings behind their various characteristics.
Taco’pe sends Japanese tako into the skies to carry on the rich pieces of culture that they represent, and in the hope that they will some day be loved as symbols of peace, not just in Japan, but all the world over. Tako are cultural treasures of the heart, and we should always take good care of them.

Manufacturing Method

  • 1. Cutting the bamboo
  • 2. Splitting the bamboo into narrow strips
  • 3. Rough sketching on the washi (Japanese paper) using diluted ink.
    *Some images are inscribed on woodblocks for printing
  • 4. Color is added using dyes specifically made for tako
  • 5. The tako is inked and completed
  • 6. The bamboo frame is assembled
  • Working view 7. The finished picture is attached to the frame
  • 8. The braided cord is attached
  • 9. The string is adjusted and completed

Washi (Japanese paper)

The manufacturing method for handmade Japanese paper was designated a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2014.
Japanese paper is strong and sturdy, so in addition to writing material, it is also used for sliding door paper and backing for hanging scrolls.
Nowadays, it also plays a role in the restoration of famous works of art all over the world. Washi was used in restoring Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment," one of the great murals in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

Meaning of the colors

  • Red represents warding off evil
  • Yellow means luck with money
  • Purple is associated with nobility
  • Orange indicates strength and the ability to fight off evil influences
  • Blue indicates the energy of stillness, quiet strength, and purification

Location & Address

■ 凧っ平: Taco'pe

Home page Signboard
Postal code
259-1322
Address
2-18-21-1F. Shibusawa Hadanoshi Kanagawa
Homepage
http://www.mmjp.or.jp/tako/
Business hours
10:00 - 19:00
Open / Close
Tue. - Sun. / Mon.