Japanese kite, Aizu Tojin

The kite (tako in Japanese) is so popular in Japan that there are festivals and popular celebrations related to kite flying and even kite museums. Painted in bright colors, usually with the well-known ukiyo-e style, the Japanese kites are featuring famous warriors, kabuki actors, mythological characters, tortoises, cranes, carps, insects, birds and geometric forms.

Some provinces have developed their own unique kite designs, like the ones from this photo, specific to Aizu. These kites, called Tojin, are featuring a scary face, with a large tongue sticking out... to scare away bad spirits...