Many thanks for joining our tours at Asakusa on July 24, 2024. We welcomed 15 guests from the USA, Canada, Germany, Russia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It was a tremendous opportunity for us to meet wonderful guests from all over the world and to share interesting conversations despite the heat wave. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached so that you can remember the fun we had during the tour.
Group A
Group B
Are you planning to be in Tokyo this weekend? If yes, be sure to check out the Sumida River Fireworks Festival in Asakusa. The Sumida River Fireworks Festival, said to be one of the three significant fireworks festivals in Japan, began in 1733 during the Edo period. At the time, there was a nationwide epidemic and famine, and the eighth Shogun, Yoshimune, tried to overcome the gloomy social atmosphere by setting off fireworks near Ryogoku Bridge while praying for the water god. Since the Edo period, the Sumida River has been a place for recreational activities such as boating and fireworks, and its elegance has been depicted by ukiyo-e artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige. In Hiroshige’s paintings, the fireworks are shaped like brooms, which is a little different from the circular ones we see today.
This year, the festival is scheduled to be held on Saturday, July 27th, and will be launched from two locations on the Sumida River from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It is expected to be crowded, so be sure to check the website if you are going.https://www.sumidagawa-hanabi.com/#
Since the Edo period, Japanese fireworks makers have worked hard to develop new fireworks. Among them were “Kagiya” and “Tamaya,” and viewers shouted the name of the one they thought was better. Even now, many people call out “Tamaya ~ Kagiya ~” when fireworks are set off.
Unlike overseas fireworks, Japanese fireworks are often round and open like spheres. Japanese fireworks festivals have been held on rivers since ancient times, and fireworks are created with the idea that the same shape can be viewed from any direction.
Every year, a fireworks competition is held, and modern fireworkmakers compete to develop new fireworks. One of the most famous is the “National Fireworks Competition” held in Akita Prefecture. This competition is a prestigious one where many prestigious awards are awarded, such as the Prime Minister’s Award and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award. Each one is infused with the fireworkmakers’ messages and creativity, making them especially beautiful.
According to WalkerPlus, there are 732 fireworks festivals registered for this year in Japan (unfortunately, it’s in Japanese. https://hanabi.walkerplus.com/list/scheduled/). If there’s a fireworks festival taking place near you, be sure to check it out!
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(Posted by Akiko Kumagai)