FIREWORKS: Japan’s Summer Spectacle
The ancient pyrotechnic invention is still alive in today’s world, and hanabi, the Japanese word for fireworks, is almost a synonym of Japan’s lively summer. Hanabi also reflects Japanese sensitive and delicate sense of art and techniques, and is a must-see event for travelers and visitors to anywhere in Japan in summer.
It is believed that fireworks became a major summer tradition in Japan because they were used for the river-opening festival in summer. Even today, the largest and the most famous fireworks in the country are either along rivers or beaches, and it works out to attract large audiences.
HISTORY
The long history of fireworks in Japan started in the 16th century, when the first gun was brought by the Portuguese explorers. Since then, gunpowder became Shogun’s attention for arm use, but when the Edo period started in 1603 and the society became stable and peaceful, people took gunpowder in the form of fireworks for entertainment. The Japanese pyrotechnic authority’s record has the year of 1751 for the first rocket-style fireworks that are the most common today.
Although fireworks were never banned even during the Second World War under the Japanese Imperialism, there was only little attention to them due to the social instability and material shortages. They were only used for cheering military forces, particularly to cheer the soldiers who were dispatched to war zones. In the post war era, although the fireworks were once banned by the Allied authorities, the US Allied Powers first permitted fireworks on for the Forth of July celebration in the military bases in 1946, which resumed the Japanese fireworks culture. Since then, fireworks decorate celebrations, festivities and national holidays of Japan, and they have evolved with detailed techniques that are unique to the Japanese culture.
CHARACTERISTICS OF JAPANESE FIREWORKS
The primary expectation of fireworks is the visual beauty: Japanese people strongly believe that the Japanese fireworks are the most beautiful and magnificent in the world. The basics of the Japanese fireworks are the precise circle in as many colors as possible in the sky, each spark changes color and each shot has multiple circles.
The precise circle shape should be the most distinct when being compared with more splash shaped fireworks that are commonly seen in the United States. However, the Japanese circle shaped fireworks are highly regarded and appreciated even in the Western societies, and been seen more and more in the United States as well.
How do they produce changing color in every spark? This is also a delicate mechanism that Japanese pyrotechnicians painstakingly developed. Each gunpowder ball is accurately rounded and has multiple layers. These layers are arranged in the way they burn in higher temperature as they get close to the center. This creates the special effect that changes colors of each spark when the ball explodes in the sky.
The double and triple circle shapes are the Japanese pyrotechnicians’ contribution to the fireworks world: The ideal is that all circles share the same center point in the sky, but this style requires very high techniques, larger sizes and more altitude, they may not be seen in every fireworks event in Japan. But once you see multiple circles opened up in the summer sky, it is a guaranteed stunning view.
The beauty of Japanese fireworks is realized with the combination of these techniques and styles. The stunning shot sounds and the breathtaking colorful circle in the sky are the absolute moment of Japan’s hot summer night.
THE BEST IN JAPAN
You wouldn’t spend summer in Japan without fireworks no matter which part of Japan you go. That is how fireworks are popular and almost necessary for Japanese people in summer. In big cities and small villages, there are over 500 fireworks events during the summer. Depending on the region and the local history, there are characteristics in fireworks and here are the best in different categories:
The largest rocket-style fireworks in the country:
Unexpectedly, it is in a small town in Niigata prefecture. Katakai is a town with 2,000 people, a typical small rural town that still embraces good old days of Japanese country life. But the population grows on the day of the traditional dedication festival to the local shrine because of the spectacular fireworks that are shot up in such a large size. They marked the Guinness record of one pound of the gunpowder ball, 2,788 feet of elevation and 2,624 feet in diameter of the explosion. The town’s history of large fireworks started back in 1891, since then this town’s festival, which is held on September 9 and 10 of each year, is famous for the enormous beautiful fireworks over the town.
http://www.city.ojiya.niigata.jp/kikaku/english/e_kanko/e_festival/fes02.html
The most spectacular floating fireworks:
Fireworks by the water are very common in Japan, and Suwako Lake in Nagano prefecture has the largest event in the country. The pyrotechnicians arrange special fireworks on the floating wiring and are ignite them in a fast pace to display a magnificent half sphere explosion over the water. This effect is seen in many lake or beach side fireworks events, but the event at Suwako Lake is the very special one. The event is held on August 15 this year.
http://www.suwako-hanabi.com/ (Japanese only)
The longest-running fireworks event through the season:
Toyako Lake of Hokkaido has received the global attention during the G8 Summit in July 2008, but this is also the place with the longest-running fireworks event throughout summer in the country. Because of the northern location, Hokkaido doesn’t have much precipitation around summer, the climate allows fireworks event from the end of April through the end of October. The area has many natural hot springs and attracts many tourists already, fireworks are the large entertainment in Toyako Lake area, and the view is picturesque with reflections of fireworks on the lake.
The most historic fireworks event:
As fireworks were developed by the Tokugawa Shoguns, who moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo (Tokyo), the event at Sumida River in downtown Tokyo is the most historic and probably the equivalent of New York City’s Fourth of July fireworks display in the United States. In 1733, the 8th Tokugawa Shogun held a festival by Sumida River to cheer the people who were intimidated by the spread of cholera, in which the marvelous fireworks were displayed. This is the beginning of this event in the old district of Tokyo, and it is so famous that it requires local friend networks or taking a day off to get the viewing spot, just like to hold the spot for the annual New Year’s eve ball drop at Times Square in New York City. This year’s festival is held on July 26.
http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html
The most photographed fireworks:
During the fireworks event, Miyajima of Hiroshima prefecture is filled with an astonishing number of tripods for cameras. This is one of Japan’s iconic and world famous shrines built in water and is the unique and such picturesque object with fabulous Japanese fireworks behind. The density of photographers is also the result of the limited area for the great shot of fireworks and the torii gate. It is worth taking the best photography spot even during the day for the indescribable and exotic view. This spectacle is scheduled on August 14.
ENJOY FIREWORKS LIKE LOCALS
Going to a fireworks event is the romance of Japan’s summer. Because fireworks are one of the elements that have been deeply reflected in the Japanese tradition for a few centuries, a lot of locals consider fireworks events as the opportunity to show up in yukata, the summer kimono. Strolling to the viewing spots, people pick up snacks, foods and beverages from the street side venders.
When the event is by the water, boats are another great viewing spots and there are several boat services available where there are fireworks events are. Check the availability of the boat service in advance.
Although there are a few events that charge fees for the seats, most fireworks events are open to public, so get ready with a strategy for the best viewing spot. It may sometimes take team work, or just time consuming stake-out. But fireworks have been entertaining the general public in the country, and that relieves people from the hot muggy summer air and refreshes their life.
——– Nori Akashi: Public Relations Manager at the New York Office of JNTO
Japan National Tourist Organization
New York Office
One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY 10020
TEL: 212-757-5640 www.japantravelinfo.com
