Summer in Japan-Fireworks

One of the most important parts of summer in Japan are the fireworks! Fireworks in japanese is 花火 (hanabi).

Fun fact: If you translate the japanese word for firework literally, it means fire flower.

During the summer, there will be a firework display on the weekend somewhere in Japan. As there are many firework displays in Japan, I thought that I would write about the most famous one in Tokyo

Sumida River fireworks festival-Tokyo

Sumida River fireworks festival next to the Tokyo Skytree
By てんどん (http://photozou.jp/photo/show/141110/145311514) [CC BY 2.1 jp (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.1/jp/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

This is a firework festival that takes place every year on the last Saturday of July over the Sumida river near Asakusa. Nearly a million people come to watch this display. As there are so many spectators, the fireworks are set off from two locations so everyone can see. In this display, two rival pyrotechnic groups compete against each other and make better fireworks than their opponent. The Tamaya and the Kagiya makes fireworks of different shapes, colours and patterns to make an inpressive display for everyone watching. Two sightseeing spots are the Sensoji temple and the Tokyo Skytree. 

The Tokyo Skytree 

Sensoji temple
By Leonard V Carlson / Picturetokyo at English Wikipedia
 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Fun fact 2: Fireworks were originally used to scare off demons.

History

It started in 1732 as part of the festival for the dead when there was poverty, famine and disease. The fireworks were used to entertain the masses. At this time the festival was called 両国川開(Ryogoku Kawabiraki). This tradition continued until World War 2 started. Even when World War 2 was over, the festival did not recommence after 1978. This tradition still carries on to this day

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