Visit Japan > Traditional culture > Japanese Fireworks

2014.07.15

When Japanese people hear of Hanabi (fireworks), the image of summer has come to their mind. In most countries, fireworks are lightened on New Year's event or celebration. However, in Japan, fireworks are the representative tradition conducting in summer nights.

In the past, fireworks consisted of gunpowders were used for the wars. However, its use has been changed for enjoying its beauty since Edo period. As fireworks have become more popular entertaining things, a lot of firework craftsmen and fireworks professions have become accepted.

From middle July to August, there are lots of fireworks festivals in every region of Japan. You can see many people wearing Yukata to join the firework festival, and there are also various vendors street shops opening during the festival. People who join the festival do not only appreciate the beauty of fireworks, but they also enjoy the shops that have operating during the festival as it is a good chance to reflect the Japanese traditional festival style such as Takoyaki, Cotton candy and Goldfish Scooping.

''Sparkler" is one of the typical Japanese hand-held fireworks. This simple fireworks with a thin paper with a gunpowder at the bottom and we hold it with the other side. As it requires balance to keep lighting it, if you do not pay much attention, the gunpowder will fall immediately after you lighten it. Even though it is not like the other colorful and gorgeous fireworks, Japanese prefer this modest and cute hand-hold firework at the end of enjoying fireworks.

Japanese Fireworks

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