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Things Japanese - Hanabi

Okazaki Fireworks - First Saturday of August

Around this last time last year, Euan (the previous newsletter editor) wrote a short, but informative, article on the fireworks and the festival which took place in Okazaki. As it is that time of year again when the country gears itself for large displays I thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at Japan's firework phenomenon. Fireworks first reached Japan's shores in the late sixteenth century, when they were brought over by Portuguese sailors. During the Edo period (1600-1868), craftsmen specializing in making fireworks emerged, and fireworks displays became a common sight during the summertime.

From late July to late August, there are fireworks displays all over Japan. A tradition that goes back several centuries in Japan, fireworks festivals have become an integral part of the Japanese calendar. Every major city and Japan has a display and thousands of other smaller towns and cities also put on a festival bringing to over 5,000 the number of displays around the country. About 250 of these are classed as 'large scale' events and about a fifth of these take place in, and around, Tokyo.

The most famous display in Tokyo is the one which takes place over the Sumida River. From 1733 this has been an institution though for 17 years, between 1961 and 1978 it was not held because of traffic jams and congestion that occurred in 1961. Thankfully, the transport around the display site is more organized than it previously was and there have been very few problems since the display was re-introduced in 1978. Over 20,000 fireworks are used in the show, with up to 500,000 people going to watch the display on the banks of the river.

Okazaki's display, though not the biggest in the Aichi area is one of the more famous ones as 70% of Japan's fireworks are made in the area. Fireworks measuring nearly 50 inches in diameter and weighing close to 1000 pounds (450 kilos) are used with explosions showering over an 800 meter diameter area lighting up night-time downtown Okazaki.

Some fireworks are specially designed so that when they burst they take the shape of flowers, animals, and waterfalls. A display in the city of Tondabayashi, Osaka Prefecture, is famous for the "Niagara," which rises to a height of 50 meters (55 yards) and stretches across the sky for 1 kilometer (1,100 yards) The display itself is huge, featuring over 120,000 rounds of fireworks.

DIY Fireworks extravanganza

Watching big displays can of course be fun, but many people prefer to have their own small, private, firework displays. Fireworks in Japan are surprisingly cheap and easy to buy compared to many other countries and a 'variety box' of fireworks that includes an assortment of noisy, colourful explosive devices can be bought for just 1,000 Yen. They are sold anywhere from large department stores to your local 24 hour convenience store. If you are serious about your fireworks then head to Asakusabashi and Bakurocho near Akihabara in Tokyo. There are general stores selling fireworks and also wholesale stores in the area. Many of these stores only sell the fireworks during the summer season from around July to September, though there are some specialist stores which sell them all the year round.

Most of the fireworks you will see for sale are made in Japan or imported from China. The Chinese produced fireworks are often cheaper but some Japanese claim that they are not as safe or as high quality as the home made ones. Japan holds various world records related to fireworks including the largest, the biggest special effects firework and the most round used at a festival. Japan can never be accused of doing things by halves.......

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