Recently, I realized there is a large uptick in viewings of our fireworks videos, at every year-end.　
Watching firework is a popular summertime activity in Japan--the Japanese tend to watch fireworks videos mainly during the summer. I assume that the many viewers watching our fireworks videos at year-end are overseas. This makes sense to me, particularly because it seems that watching fireworks to welcome the new year is a popular activity outside of Japan.
I decided to make this video and upload it in this period of time, especially for our overseas viewers so that they can see how amazing Japanese fireworks are.
This video includes my favorite fireworks displays from six different fireworks festivals.
I picked these fireworks festivals not only for my love of them but also because of the previous popularity with our overseas viewers.
There are many other great fireworks displays in Japan. Please check out our other fireworks videos and I will continue to upload further Japanse firework displays on this channel.
Here is some information on the six fireworks festivals in this video:
1. Nagaoka Fireworks Festival from 0:11
When: 2nd and 3rd of August (the dates may change in 2020)
Where: Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
Nagaoka Fireworks Festival is one of the most popular and famous fireworks festivals in Japan.
There are many large scale displays, including 90cm (36 inches) diameter shells. The "Phoenix" display is undoubtedly the highlight of this festival. Viewers tend to love the Phoenix because it reflects a prayer for successful reconstruction of the damage caused by the Niigata Chuuetsu earthquake in 2004, the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and other Japanese disasters.
It is also a prayer for world peace and a wish to convert all world bombs into fireworks shells.
2. Ebisu-Ko Fireworks Festival from 6:00
When: 23rd of November
Where: Nagano, Nagano, Japan
Ebisu-Ko Fireworks Festival is one of the few large-scale fireworks festivals held in autumn.
I love this fireworks festival because two great fireworks (pyrotechnics) companies, Beniya Aoki Enka and Shinshu Enka, display their talent. They showcase their display at other festivals but here, the quality of their display is heightened and is rarely seen elsewhere.
The heightened quality of their displays maybe because both companies are local to Nagano city, where Ebisu-Ko is held.
3. Tonegawa Fireworks Festival from 14:48
When: mid-July (the date may change in 2020)
Where: Sakai, Ibaraki, Japan
Tonegawa Fireworks Festival has been growing each year. I think their fireworks display has the best scale and is the most attractive fireworks festival held near Tokyo for now.
Four great fireworks (pyrotechnics) companies, Yamazaki Enka, Nomura Hanabi Industry, Beniya Aoki Enka and Marugo, showed beautiful displays this year. Just last year, only three pyrotechnic companies had participated in this festival, which is indicative of the festival's growth.
4. Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival from 25:45
When: late July (the date may change in 2020)
Where: Kuwana, Mie, Japan
Kuwana Suigo Fireworks Festival is held in a small town named Kuwana, near Nagoya, the biggest city in central Japan.
This fireworks festival is famous for 60cm (24 inches) diameter shells, which rise 500m high and opens to 600m in diameter. We can see about 20 of the 24-inch shells during the festival every year.
My favorite fireworks (pyrotechnics) company, Ina Kako Horiuchi Enka's, 24-inch shells are simply amazing and their accompanying soundtrack is always outstanding.
5. Shinmei Fireworks from 39:26
When: 7th of August (10th of October in 2020)
Where: Ichikawa-Misato, Yamanashi, Japan
Shinmei Fireworks has been one of my favorite fireworks festivals for a while. My favorite fireworks (pyrotechnics) company, Marugo, shows their best work at this festival.
I have seen Marugo's fireworks displays in many festivals such as Nagaoka, Tonegawa, Akagawa, among others, but the display here is undoubtedly special.
Similarly to Ebisu-Ko, Marugo is located in Yamanashi where Shinmei is held. Therefore this display is also heightened quality which is rarely seen outside of Shinmei.
This show is one of my all-time favorites.
6. Akagawa Fireworks Festival from 44:42
When: mid-August (15th of August in 2020)
Where: Tsuruoka Yamagata
Akagawa Fireworks Festival is my favorite fireworks festival in Japan.
We can see many large-scale displays from great fireworks (pyrotechnics) companies such as Isogai Enka, Marugo, Beniya Aoki Enka, Ina Kako Horiuchi Enka, and others.
In 2020, they will hold a special display commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Akagawa Fireworks Festival--I just can't wait for this.
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