Edinburgh will be the scene of a fierce battle on Sunday 2nd September, as spectacular giant kites take to the skies over Calton Hill.

The huge three metre square patterned kites will do battle between 2pm and 4.30pm, recreating the riotous celebrations of the Japanese Hamamatsu Festival, attended by millions of people each year.

The ‘dogfights’ will be demonstrated by the Sode-Cho Kite Fliers from Japan, accompanied on parade by the Demon Drummers. Everyone will have an opportunity to learn how to fly the kites and join in the fun – for free!

The event is part of programme celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Friendship Link between Edinburgh and Kyoto Prefecture in Japan and the fifth anniversary of the Japanese Friendship Garden at Lauriston Castle, one of the largest Japanese gardens in Scotland.

To mark the Friendship Link, one of the kites flown on Sunday will be decorated with the City of Edinburgh Council crest.

The Right Hon. George Grubb, Lord Provost of Edinburgh said: "The Hamamatsu Festival is a celebration of life and community spirit. It is a great honour to host a smaller version in the Capital to celebrate our friendship with the Kyoto Prefecture.

"In Japan, it is customary for young people to be at the centre of the celebrations so I hope lots of people turn out on Sunday to join in the fun.”

Held at the beginning May each year in Hamamatsu City, the Hamamatsu Festival is well-known for its Takoage Gassen, or kite fight, which starts with fireworks, trumpets and drums; and ends with opponents sawing through the strings of each other’s kites using the friction created by the speed of the kite soaring through the air.