November 2015

MIKIO TOKI
Scott Skinner
Kitefliers in Colorado have been lucky for the
last two years because of the Japan America
Society of Colorado and their commitment to
h o s t i n g a k i t e fl y i n t h e S t a p l e t o n
neighborhood of Denver during the annual
Denver Days celebration throughout the city.
With the help of Denver’s Japanese Consulate,
the Society brought kitemaker Mikio Toki to
the event both years. Undaunted by Toki-san’s
late arrival in 2014 (where I was thrown in to
do kitemaking workshops and Toki-san was
only able to spend one day flying kites), this
year Toki was able to lecture and demonstrate
during an opening reception, lead morning
and afternoon workshop sessions, and spend a
full day flying kites on the old Stapleton
Airport grounds. Beautiful, calm August
weather conspired to keep us all grounded for
a good portion of the day, but using mile-high
breezes that came and went, we were all able
to have some magical flying moments. Toki’s
presence has ensured that George Peters,
Melanie Walker, and I have been on a
Colorado kite-field for two consecutive years –
a new record!
Scott Skinner
Japanese kitemaker Mikio Toki has been important
to the preservation of Japanese kite culture both
in Japan and internationally.
Toki’s visits to Colorado have reminded me of
how important he has been to the preservation
of Japanese kite culture both in Japan and
internationally. Like a kitemaker of 100 years
ago, Toki-san is still commissioned during
traditional kite seasons (Children’s Day, New
Year) to make special kites for children and
adults. Unlike his predecessors, kitemaking in
today’s Japan cannot truly be a full-time job.
Luckily for the international kite community,
continued on page 51
46