Baramon Kites
Baramon kites (baramondako) are vividly painted, handmade kites decorated with the glaring face of a demon (oni). The demon’s jaws are clamped onto the helmet of a warrior who has challenged the demon head-on, demonstrating his strength of character and fearlessness. In Goto Islands tradition, a father or grandfather presents a baramon kite to his son or grandson on the child’s first May 5, a holiday once known as “Boy’s Day.” The gift represents a wish for the child to be safe, successful, and courageous.
Large paper kites are common in many regions, but only those in the Goto Islands feature the distinctive demon-and-helmet design. The origin of the kites and their motif is uncertain, but folktales from centuries ago describe warriors who are saved from the bite of a demon by their sturdy helmets. The warrior seen on the kites is said to be Watanabe no Tsuna (953–1025), a hero celebrated in art and folklore for defeating demons.
Baramon kites are made of painted washi paper glued to a frame of 14 crisscrossing bamboo strips. All baramon kites have the demon and helmet motif, but the kite’s colors and other decorative details are chosen by its artist. Another unusual feature is a strip of rattan stretched like a bowstring above the head of the demon. This strip vibrates when the kite is flown and emits a distinctive buzz, called the unari, or “growl.” The fearsome sound is supposed to frighten away any lurking bad fortune.
Various theories exist to explain the name baramon, but the most widely accepted one attributes it to the word barakamon. In the Goto Islands dialect, a barakamon is someone who is cheerfully rowdy. Thus the name alludes to both the noisiness of the kite and the wish it carries for a healthy, rambunctious childhood.