Also on Saturday, February 17, there will be an adult workshop for ages 14 and older from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. This workshop costs $52 plus a $10 materials fee with advance registration required. Participants will make dyed kites, known as orizome, with Mikio Toki and then fly them.
On Sunday, February 18, the public is invited to fly kites, including ones built at the weekend’s events at the museum or brought from home. The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Morikami Park. In the event of inclement weather, Mikio Toki will present a lecture about Japanese kites in the theater. Free but advance registration is required.
About Mikio Toki and Asami Toki:
Kite artist Mikio Toki was born and raised in Tokyo. He designs and makes Tokyo-style kites. As a young boy, Mikio was mesmerized by kites designed and flown by kite master Katsuhisa Ota. He aspired to design and build kites just like the elderly kite master and has been doing so for many years. In 2012, Mikio’s daughter, Asami decided to carry on their artistic lineage. She has assisted in kite-making workshops for children and adults in Japan as well as around the world. More recently, she has started to create new mini kites. Together, the Tokis experiment with designing traditional kites using modern materials, innovative colors, and dyes. Frequently invited to kite festivals worldwide, they continue to paint and create new Japanese kite masterpieces that they then share and fly with the public.
