Style of IKIJI Part10

Edo Fireworks

Speaking of fireworks in Edo, it is the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, which is said to be the oldest in Japan. It will be held on Saturday of July 27 this year. Originally it was about 286 years ago, since it was the beginning of the fireworks launch from the boat in the meaning of worshiping the safety of river navigation and praises the spirit of the death of the water at the “Ryogoku-gawa (former Sumida River) open festival in 1733. The fireworks at that time were not fireworks that had large flower blooms in the night sky like no

w, but were rocket-like fireworks that raised slack.

The people of Edo loved fireworks, but the fireworks until then were hand-held puffing type and were mainly one of the men’s games. It was the “Sparkler Fireworks” that has been developed so that women and children can enjoy the fireworks. Originally it was improved from “Geisha incense,” which is inserted in the incense furnace and measured time when playing with the geisha in the Kansai area, seems to have made a sparkler, and may have started with this play with fire(aventure), too?

Sparkler Fireworks called “Nagate Botan” (long peony) has been devised and developed at EDO against sparkler in the Kansai area. “Long peony” and is the type we usually get. As you know, there are four changes in this sparkler, from the time it lights up to the time the fireballs fall. 1, “Peony” fire ball swelling like peony. 2, “Pine needle”, sparks are scattered like a pine needle, 3; “Willow” sparks spread like a willow branch. 4, “Falling chrysanthemum” sparking with sound looks like a chrysanthemum.

It is as if the common people of Edo like the four seasons, and repeated over the life, it seems that they enjoyed such change. Isn’t it the reason that is still enjoyed by young and old men and women?  Well, what should we wear for this year’s fireworks display? And for fireworks to be enjoyed by the family during summer vacation etc., don’t forget the sparkler that Edo common people loved by all means!  And let’s be careful about the disposal of fireworks.