Edo-kaku-kites are traditional Tokyo-style kites that have been passed down since the Edo period (1603-1867). There are many traditional Tokyo kites, such as the "KAKU-kite" (square kite), "ROKKAKU-kite" (hexagonal kite), "YAKKO-kite" (Samurai kite), "TONBI-kite" (bird kite), and "KOMA-kite" (top kite), but when people say "Edo kite," they mainly mean the "Edo-kaku-kite（Edo rectangular kite）" It is a slightly vertically long rectangular kite, and is characterized by flying it with a long "UNARI（hummer）" and long "bridles" It is also known as the "Edo Nishikie kite," and in Tokyo it is shortened to "EDO-kaku." The pictures painted on kites seem to have often been based on ukiyo-e, kabuki, or anecdotes and stories handed down from ancient times. There are also kites such as "JIDDAKO (kites with only kanji characters)" painted with Japanese kanji characters in a style of calligraphy called Edo moji. Since becoming very popular during the Edo period, kites have been flown widely and have been passed down to the present day.

"ITOME (bridles)" are the strings attached to the kite.

For Edo Kaku Kite, the length of the string is roughly 20 times the length of the kite, but it can be longer if you like. For example, if the length of the kite is 1m, 1m x 20 = 20m, so use 20m long strings for the bridles. The strings are neatly aligned, the end of the kite string is made into a loop, and the flying line is tied to it to fly the kite. Because the strings are long, you need to align the strings while flying the kite and find the best position according to the wind direction of the day. This may be the reason why Edo Kaku Kite is considered difficult to fly.

The basic number of bridles is 14. If the kite is large, you need to add more bridles. If the kite is large, you will need to add more bridles. The bridle is taken from the intersection of the vertical and horizontal bamboo sticks, and the larger the kite, the more bamboo sticks there are, so the number of intersections will also increase.

Nowadays, this style, without tails, is the mainstream, but in the past, the bridles was sometimes shortened and a long rough rope tails attached to the kite.

UNARI (hummer) is made by bending a round bamboo stick or a split bamboo stick like a bow for an arrow, stretching a tape made of rattan, attaching it to the top of the kite, and listening to the sound of the rattan trembling in the wind. In the past, thin whale's baleen or animal skin was used instead of rattan. Children's kites were also made by stretching flat rubber on the bow.

In the cold, strong north wind, the kite hums and roars as it flies high into the sky. The kite painting, with its red as the main color, and the long white threads stand out against the clear blue sky. In the past, when it was quiet and there was little noise from cars and other things, the humming sound could be heard for quite a long distance, and I have heard that people used that sound as a guide to go and watch the kites being flown.