Uchiage Hanabi

Uchiage Hanabi is the big firework shot in the night sky. This kind of the firework was invented and developed in Edo era. The craftsmen of the firework started to develop the beautiful fireworks, which became very popular among the citizens of the town of Edo. And now the hanabi is one of the pleasant event for Japanese. At the summer night, you can see them almost everywhere in Japan, especially near port, beach , river and theme parks.

Families, groups of friends and couples of lovers go out to watch the fireworks in the midsummer night. After the fireworks are viewed in the sky, darkness regains silently. And for a while, we wait for the new lightning to sparkle, looking at deep dark blue sky. Then there is a new lightning of firework. Japanese people love to see the uchiage-hanabi, the fireworks, especially in the summer. They might love the moment of silence between explosions of hanabi in the sky. The moment that we feel the brightness changing to darkness, or the loudness shifting to silence seems meaningful.

Senko Hanabi

Senko hanabi is a short piece of paper with gunpowder at the tip. Hold it with your fingers and hang it to light the fire at the end of the tip, and enjoy watching the small sparks emitted. When you light the senko-hanabi, a small fireball is formed at the end of it. If you don’t lose the ball, the sparks will continue. People around you keep watching senko-hanabi. Eventually, a small fireball will fall to the ground. And the surroundings get dark. The Japanese seem to like this ephemeral thing. Perhaps this firework is a little more suited to the Japanese feeling.