King-sized Japanese kites

As a child, flying a little kite was tremendous fun, but in some parts of Japan, the ‘kids’, as well as being significantly more sullen,

aren’t nearly so small,

and the kites are mindboggingly massive.

This particular one in Sagamihara, just outside Tokyo, measuring a monumental 14.5 metres by 14.5 metres; its 950kg bamboo and handmade paper construction making it appear far from flyable.

However, with some considerable effort,

it can actually be coaxed into the air,

albeit briefly,

with even the old boys at the back bearing a bit of the burden.

(click images for considerably more colossal kites)

There's also the option of following Tokyo Times by full feed RSS, and now Twitter too.