Authors: Tokuko Sato
Date Submitted: November 30, 2009
Article Type: Discourse

Japan is a long island from north to south. There are different kite cultures within the country, and each culture adopts their geographical condition beautifully. Is there any country other than Japan that has such diverse kite cultures in one country?

The Tsugaru Dako was born in the most northern part of Honshu Island (the biggest and main island of Japan), which is under snow half of the year. Japan’s Sengoku period – from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century – was a time of social upheaval and political intrigue. The Tsugaru region was controlled by the Tsugaru clan. The Tsugaru chief and his team had to live in Edo (old Tokyo) when the Edo Period began. While living in Tokyo, they learned traditional Japanese painting, and when they finished serving time, they came back home with the new skill.

After that, the famous Japanese woodblock print artists Hokusai and Kuniyoshi became well-known in Japan. The Tsugaru people added their regional touch to the art themes Hokusai or Kuniyoshi created, and that was the beginning of Tsugaru painting.

Page Number: 39
PDF Link: Discourse Issue