Summer Fireworks are an institution in Japan. Originally they were used to ward of evil. Nowadays it is something people can look forward to. For the TV affacinado they are known as plot points in romance narration or as a curious background when hunting criminals.
Naniwa Yodo River Fireworks Festival
We arrived in the afternoon at the designated area for the fireworks and although I thought that we were REALLY early it was already very crowded with people getting ready. Here is some evidence. But not only was it supercrowded but it was also super organized. I was a bit shocked to find out that there are ticketed areas along the river with seating arrangements, but on second thought it seems quite logical.
YATAI!
Every little festival – and I would say fireworks of this scale are a festivity – comes along with a flood of food stalls, they are called YATAI and serve typical festival food, such as yakisoba, takoyaki, oden, kara-age, dango, and what not. There was some concern that it might rain (and in Japan’s summers that would not be just a light drizzle). However, we were lucky and got to see another form of fireworks just before the official one.
Evening Sky:
AND THEN (THE FIREWORKS):
To be honest, staring at the fireworks rising up in the sky in variation after variation I was may be overly stunned, so I forgot to take pictures for a while (but remembered eventually). We left the main area quite a bit before the end to avoid the rush of people returning home. (although we were not the only ones to have this idea). You can see that a bit in the pictures.
Further information on Hanabi from external sources:
– Tips and introduction on Hanabi – on www.japan-guide.com
Expedition Courtesy: The white rabbit & friends.
Fireworks and the Evening Sky
And finally the fireworks ... and then ... the crowds leaving the venue ....
