Of the 6 main businesses that the Eastern Culture Foundation (ECF) is supporting we have begun to support the production of the traditional craft, “Ondako (Demon Kite)”, at the Ondako Workshop on Iki Island in Nagasaki Prefecture. The support of the workshop represents one of ECF’s activities in the effort to revitalize culturally significant areas.

The "Ondako” is a traditional kite from Iki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, depicting the extermination of a band of “oni” (a kind of demon in the traditional Japanese mythos). Today it is a common indoor decoration on Iki Island as is used by the the local islanders as a kind of talisman to ward off disease and disaster in the home.

Until 10 years ago there were several craftsmen on the island but now only one remains, Ms. Fukuyo Hirao (85). Ms. Hirao has been making the kites for half a century. In such a pinch, her granddaughter, Ms. Ayumi Saito (26), who lives in Fukuoka Prefecture, makes time to visit the island regularly in order to learn the skills necessary for the creation of the traditional craft. We were moved by this desire to protect the treasures and carry on the cultural traditions of the Iki Islanders and thus began providing support.