About Taco'pe


Artifact Information
Artifact Name | Hadano good luck tako : Kite |
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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 |
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Meiji Shrine


The Traditional Craftsman Profile
Craftsman Name | ![]() |
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Career |
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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
- 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

- 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.