"Hanabi (Fireworks)"
"Ryogoku Hanabi"
Utagawa Hiroshige |
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 Fireworks symbolize the typical Japanese scenery during the summer. The summer vacation season starts between July and August and we can see firework events everywhere in Japan as well as many people wearing yukata's (an informal cotton kimono) and holding paper fans while gathering to see the fireworks. It is said that Japanese fireworks were brought to Japan by the Portuguese when they came to Tanegashima in 1543 introducing guns. However, it was not until the Edo era that firework events like we know them today, were held as an entertainment event for ordinary people. In 1733, the 8th Shogun Yoshimune displayed fireworks atOkawabata to soothe the spirit of the victims of famine and cholera that was prevailing all over Japan fromthe previous year and it was seen as a way to get rid of evil spirits. These were the origin of famous fireworks popular pleasure of the Edo people was to take a walk after sunset and enjoy the coolness of the evening. Especially, Sumida River was the most popular place for a stroll. In the early Edo era, the bridges that crossed the Sumida river were the Ryogoku-bashi, Shin-o-bashi, and the Eitai-bashi. Since the Ryogoku-bashi area was the most popular place of the 3 bridges mentioned, most people gathered to enjoy its coolness. The period fromMay 28 until Aug.28, teashops, restaurants, show tents and storyteller theaters were allowed to be open until midnight. The Ryogoku-bashi area of Sumida River was so crowded with houseboats and vendor boats that it seemed as if people could cross the river by walking on the boats that were lined up. Thus, the prosperity of the summer season in the Ryogoku-bashi area was a symbolic annual event in Edo culture. The fireworks became a local specialty; They were displayed every night as long as sponsors supported them.
The most famous pyrotechnists were "Tama-ya" and "kagi-ya." Tama-ya took their position upstream of Ryogoku-bashi and Kagi-ya went downstream to compete with the brilliantness of the flowered shapes that bloomed in the night skies. Since the fireworks of that era used black gunpowder, it was not as bright as today's fireworks. Since the Meiji-era, various kinds of chemicals have been imported to Japan.
Japanese fireworks have made more exquisite and elaborate by those who have succeeded the skills of Tama-ya and Kagi-ya. As of today, many pyrotechnists still manufacture handcrafted fireworks with their own skill and they have implemented the old skills and characteristics for tints and changing colors. The process of making paper shells for wrapping gunpowder is thought to be the most important process. Because the strength of the shell determines the size of "bon"(a Japanese style circle tea tray) and spreading speed of the stars. Pyrotechnists paid attention to making shells by sticking Japanese paper one by one and drying it under the sun every time.
The fireworks made by this process are considered one of the most beautiful
types of fireworks made today and they are exported to 24 countries around
the world. |
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