Yasuo Shimura 志村 康夫
江戸文字・凧絵絵師
Edo Moji / Edo Kite Painting Artist
北区伝統工芸保存会
北区伝統工芸保存会会員
Member of Kita Ward Traditional Crafts Preservation Association
1949年生まれ。
歌川派最後の凧絵師、橋本禎造氏より凧絵師技術を修得、石原裕次郎CM用、桑田佳祐などの著名人の祝凧制作ほか栃東関の化粧まわしのデザインなども手がける。
1990年米オレゴン州での世界凧大会にて凧絵部門アートグランプリ、現在は東京都伝統工芸技術保存連合会理事を務める。
Born in 1949, he learned the art of kite painting from Teizo Hashimoto, the last kite painter of the Utagawa school.His works include kite designs for a commercial featuring Yujiro Ishihara, celebratory kites for renowned figures such as Keisuke Kuwata, and the design of a ceremonial mawashi for sumo wrestler Tochinowaka.In 1990, he received the Art Grand Prix in the Kite Art category at the World Kite Competition held in Oregon, USA.He currently serves as a board member of the Tokyo Traditional Craft Techniques Preservation Association.
江戸庶民の遊びとして隆盛を極めた凧
Kites that reached their peak as a beloved pastime of Edo’s townspeople.
和凧（わだこ）は、竹の骨組みに和紙を張って作られる日本の伝統的な凧（たこ）で、正方形や菱形などの幾何学模様、歌舞伎の役者絵、縁起の良い動物や人物（助六、弁慶、七福神など）が描かれ、お正月の風物詩として親しまれており、各地で異なる形やデザインの郷土凧が存在します。平安時代に中国から日本に伝わり、「紙鳶（しえん）」と呼ばれました。庶民の遊びとして広まる中で「いかのぼり」とも呼ばれ、江戸時代には「凧（たこ）」という呼び名が定着し、日本各地の空を彩り、健康や立身出世を願う縁起物とされています。お正月など機運上昇の祈りを込めて、親子で手作り凧を揚げて楽しんだり、 日本の伝統文化として海外の方へのお土産としても凧は人気があります。 A wadako is a traditional Japanese kite made by stretching washi paper over a bamboo frame. Its designs are rich with cultural meaning, featuring geometric patterns such as squares and diamonds, kabuki actor portraits, and auspicious figures and animals—including Sukeroku, Benkei, and the Seven Lucky Gods. Closely associated with New Year celebrations, wadako are cherished seasonal symbols, and each region of Japan has developed its own distinctive local kite styles and designs.Introduced to Japan from China during the Heian period, kites were originally known as shien (紙鳶). As they spread among common people, they were also called ikanobori. By the Edo period, the name tako (凧) became firmly established. Since then, Japanese kites have adorned the skies across the country, believed to bring good health, success, and upward fortune—quite literally lifting one’s wishes into the wind.During the New Year and other moments when hopes are set high, families often make and fly kites together, sharing laughter with the winter breeze. Today, wadako are also appreciated as beautiful representations of Japanese tradition, making them popular and meaningful souvenirs for visitors from around the world—small pieces of sky, folded neatly to travel far.
