2019.05.08
SFC's annual kite-flying event was held on Saturday, April 20, 2019, at the planned construction site for the Miraisozojuku (Institute for Designing the Future) (WEST Block) on the Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC).
This giant kite-flying has become an annual event where students, primarily those enrolled in the first-year required courses "Policy Management" and "Environment and Information Studies," fly the kite with the cooperation of the local Endo district's "Tako no Kai" (Kite Association).
The day of the event was blessed with clear skies and a southerly wind, marking the inaugural flight of a new kite created last month, primarily by students from the research group of Yoko Hasebe, an associate professor at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies. Until last year, the kite featured the large character for "dream" (夢), but this year, based on the students' free-thinking ideas, the character was decided to be "fruit/reality" (実), and a version with the character written in a flowing style was completed.
About 70 people gathered for the kite-flying event, including 6 members from the Tako no Kai and over 10 faculty and staff members. While international students also participated, making it an opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture, the unique character of SFC was also on full display as Professor Keiji Takeda of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies flew multiple drones to film the majestic kite from various angles. At first, the wind was inconsistent, and everyone went through a process of trial and error. However, as the participating students gradually mastered how to pull the giant kite's rope and catch the wind, the kite soared high into the sky during the latter half of the event. Many participants had the experience of holding the rope, lowering their stance, and bracing themselves against the immense tension generated by the giant kite. After the event, the bright and cheerful expressions on the participants' faces were very memorable.
[Video shot by drone. Filmed by: Keiji Takeda Laboratory]
Source: SFC Office, Academic and Student Affairs Section