The fireworks festivals held throughout Japan are one of its summer traditions.
Fireworks festivals are mainly held on weekends in July and August, typically at the beach or along major rivers.
It is one of the big summer vacation events for children, a time for lovers to experience summer to its fullest and get closer, and a time of peace and relaxation for the elderly.
Children keep their coins in hand to buy food at the stalls, lovers dress up in yukatas and wear clog shoes or sandals, and everyone enjoys their own summer experiences.
I believe there are three ways to enjoy a fireworks display.
The first is to enjoy the dynamic spectacle of the fireworks in the night sky, and the transience of their dazzling display returning to a black night sky in mere seconds.
The second is enjoying the echoing sounds that accompany the fireworks as they spread through the night sky. The boom of the fireworks that seems to echo in the heart is felt in your body along with the colors of the night sky, leaving a sensation of the significance and impact of fireworks.
The third is to indulge in sentimentality. Fireworks are not just one of the biggest events of summer, but they also signal that summer’s end is near.
As you watch the beautiful fireworks spreading across the night sky, you can reflect on your memories of summer.
Children, lovers, and families all recall their own summer experiences as they watch the fireworks, absorbed in the thoughts of another summer coming to an end. This is a time to be relished.
If you should happen to visit Japan in the summer, first be sure to check if there are any fireworks displays near your destination.
And if you should happen to have the opportunity to see a fireworks display, be sure to look up at the night sky and reflect on the days gone by.