Kabuki Series

Four classical kite designs from Japan

TUKINAMI Tuki means "push" and nami means "wave". This popular image shows the water splashing before the sun. There are many images in Japanese culture which have a strong relationship to the sun. The Shinto religion is based on the sun God, Amanoterasu. The Japanese flag represents the rising sun. These images show the Japanese indigenous faith toward the sun.	SUKEROKU Sukeroku is a famous Kabuki hero who challenged the rich upper classes and was very popular with the common people, especially women. Kabuki plays were developed during the middle Edo period of history. Japan was ruled by a warrior or Samurai class, and less privileged classes often wrote plays representing criticism or irony of the unfair class system.	WATONAI Watonai is the hero of a famous Joruri or puppet play which was popular in the Edo period. When Manchuria conquered China in the 17th Century, he led a revolt and later founded a new dynasty on Taiwan. Although this story concerns foreign history, it is popular in Japan because Watonai was of mixed Japanese and Chinese parentage.	KOI The Carp is the most popular fish in Japan because of its gorgeous, magnificent, and colorful style. In Japanese culture, the Koi represents strength, courage and success life. On Children's Day in May, Carp windsocks are flown from each home. This is because parents wish success for their children's lives in the future.

Commentary by Makoto Ohashi
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