NIC Japanese Language School

　Fireworks Shows 花火大会(はなびたいかい)

Fireworks shows (花火大会：はなびたいかい)in summer can be enjoyed in Japan.
It is the annual Noryo Fireworks Festival. Noryo means “evening cool.”
From early afternoon on the days of famous fireworks shows,
streams of people in party mood begin trickling into the places,
many of whom clothed in yukata (informal cotton kimono) waiting for
the shows in lines under the scorching sun. The atmosphere in the crowd
will change dramatically when the first of the evening’s fireworks
are set off skyward . It is a very exciting and fantastic moment to the spectators.
It’s astonishing to think that Japan has about 7,000 fireworks events
nationwide every summer.

History
The origin of fireworks is said to be from signal fires in China.
The history of fireworks of Japan started in 1549, when guns
and gunpowder were introduced by Lusitanians.It was recorded
that Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Edo Government saw fireworks
from the Edo castle. As fireworks manufacturers had improved
their skills during the Edo period (1604-1868),
　fireworks became summer entertainment for the public by the 18th century.
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival, one of the oldest fireworks shows
in Japana was set up as annual summer event by the eighth shogun,
Tokugwa Yoshimune in 1733.
The event was prepared to dispel evil spirits and comfort the souls of the dead ,
as the previous year saw epidemics
in Edo (current Tokyo) and a nationwide famine which killed about one million people.
In the Meiji-period (1868 〜1912), Japanese fireworks makers used
imported chemicals for creating fireworks and were
constantly improving their technique.
As a result,
Japanese fireworks became as colorful and sparkling as they are now.
With 340-year history, Kagi-ya is the oldest fireworks factory in existence in Japan.
Kagi-ya allowed the salesclerk early 19th century to set up
his own firework factory called
Tama-ya,but Tama-ya was forced to close its business because a big fire
destroyed the factory.
Even now the onlookers often shout “Tama-ya” as well as “Kagi-ya”
in place of applause.

The Japanese and Hanabi
Why do the Japanese see and love the fireworks displays ?
National love for the events is quite understandable when you consider
the character of the Japanese.
The mid-summer evening big fireworks shows suit the taste of the Japanese.
We cherish short-lived beauty, such as that of cherry blossoms in spring, which are
at their best for only a couple of days. The enjoyment of fireworks is along
the same line..

It is impossible to list all of them here, but here are some most popular:
Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai, July 26th(Sat): to be held on the Sumida River,
centering on Sakurabashi and Kototoibash Bridges and on Komagatabash and
Umayabashi Bridges, from 19:10 to 20:30
Access: Subway Ginza line or Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa Station
Jingu Gaien Hanabi Taikai: August 7th(Thurs): to be held from 19:30 to 20:30
Access: Subway Ooedo Line or Ginza Line to Aoyama-icchome Station
Tokyo Bay Daihanabi Taikai: August 10th (Sun): to be held from 19:00 to 20:20
Access: Subway Ooedo Line to Kachidoki Station or Yurakucho Line
to Toyosu Station

If you want to set off Hanabi in your yard, I recommend you to get
toy fireworks.
Originally they are for children, but you can enjoy them
with your family and friends.
They can be available easily at a toyshop and a convenient store.

NIC Instructor Sachiko Hamano

NIC Japanese Lunguage School



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