Here comes the season for Fireworks festival. This year in Tokyo, there are lots of fireworks display to check out. Learn a little about Japanese style fireworks and Yukata to enjoy the art in the summer sky before you go out for the exciting events.
▼Types of Japanese Fireworks▼What is Yukata?
The yaeshin has another core in addition to the first. Creation of this kind takes a great deal of labor, and creating a well-shaped yaeshin is the greatest of Japanese firework achievements.
Pulling no tail, the botan’s brightly shining stars travel outside the "flower petals” with the force of the explosion. Along with kikusaki, botan is one of the most representative of Japanese fireworks.
The kikusaki is a basic type of Japanese firework. It is known as “hikisakigiku”. When it explodes with a large “boom”, it burns off pulling a tail of gold- (and reddish-) colored burning powder, with its outer stars changing to red or blue. The photo above is a “blue kikusaki”.
The hirawari is a general firework. It comprises most small ball fireworks up to #4 balls. It is the basis for Japanese fireworks.
[Saturn/UFO]
The photo above shows a Saturn. The planet portion of Saturn is expressed by red stars, while the rings are expressed by white stars. This firework is representative of 3-D varieties.
The nishikikamuro’s light does not go off immediately after the flower opens in this gold firework, but the flower petals instead sag downward for a moment. This firework is used toward the end of fireworks shows, and is a very gorgeous firework element.
With the senrin, a small flower opens after the initial “boom” in the sky. This fireworks is very popular.
In contrast to the gold of the nishikikamuro, the ginkamuro has a silver color, as suggested by its name (gin means silver). Since the ginkamuro burns hotter than the nishikikamuro, it takes skill to make it burn for a long time in the same conditions. The ginkamuro is produced using Japan’s high level of technology.
Yukata is a Japanese summer kimono that is made of light cotton. As its original name means "yukatabira" which means "bathing clothes," Court Noblehad worn yukata in ancient Japan after taking a bath.
Later on, yukata was also worn by Japanese warriors and gradually by the public when public bath became popular in Japan.
These days, yukata has gained its popularity among Japanese and many people wear yukata to go out for the occasions such as summer festivals and fireworks festivals.
Most of traditional yukata are made of indigo-dyed cotton, but today a variety of colors and designs are available even at reasonable prices.
Yukata is worn with a wide belt ｃalled obi which can simply rapped around the waist and tucked in at the end. Along with a matching geta (wooden sandals) and purse,you are now ready to enjoy the summer.
Tokyo 150-0044
Phone: 03-5489-5771
http://www.kr-aki.co.jp/english/index.html (English)
Tokyo 182-0001
phone/fax 03-5384-6836
http://www.iroof.jp/asanogawa/irai.htm (Japanese)
