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In Japanese rokkaku literally means six cornered kite, rok=six and kaku=cornered kite. These kites have been built for hundreds of years with only one purpose, to fight. In the town of Sanjo families, neighborhoods, and businesses will build or commission large versions to take into battle each June.

Pretty much anything goes. You can use your line to cut an opponent's line or to tip another kite. You can try to block the wind or just smash into the other kites and hope for the best. With proper tuning and in the hands of a masterfull flier the rokkaku can be controlled with lethal accuracy.

In the end when the dust has cleared and all of kites are reduced to splinters, all of the participipants claim victory.

These roks are part of a set I built for combat at the Treasure Island Kite Festival held each January. They have seen quite a few battles over the years.