Great article, I had no idea of the cultural significance going into it. Are there any legal restrictions, like for many States in the US? Or, is it not a private consumer product in Japan like it is here?
Very interesting. "Firework" makers in Naples are famous for manufacturing what amount to bomb-like objects with dynamite and other party goods. On New Year's Eve, by midnight, the city's ERs are full of people missing hands and fingers.
Why were noisy/frightening and dangerous fireworks adopted for the purpose of celebration? They're quite the spectacle - only at night - but they can also be quite frightening (ask any dog!). Was it to do with scaring unwanted spirits/demons out of our dimension and back into their own?
Between 1603-1867, Edo was the de-facto capital of Japan, though the useless imperial court was in Kyoto.
As for your first question, I guess it's in our nature to like noisy/annoying sometimes frightening/dangerous celebrating, like getting dead drunk and have a fight outside the pub.
In Italy we have the Orange Battle Festival where people literally throw oranges to each other. If you only want to watch without risking being hit, you have to buy a special hat.
..In contrast to Mexico, where individuals set off fireworks at any given time at any part of the street that don’t necessarily have much of any visual component, but will undoubtedly create a really loud sound.
Hanabi is also a great film by one one Japan’s greatest modern directors, Takeshi Kitano.
One small correction: 200 AD was towards the end of the Han dynasty; Song dynasty corresponds roughly to European medieval times, the middle of it was around a thousand years ago.
Congrats on 1000 and I'm glad your family emergency seems less emergency-y. Looking forward to your posts in 2024!
Great article, I had no idea of the cultural significance going into it. Are there any legal restrictions, like for many States in the US? Or, is it not a private consumer product in Japan like it is here?
Nice! Glad your crisis has been, for the time being, weathered.
The fireworks I'm looking forward to are also, I believe, in Ryogoku; at the Kokugikan, where the January Sumo Basho will start in a week or so.
Always helps get me through the dreary Ohio winters.
Very interesting. "Firework" makers in Naples are famous for manufacturing what amount to bomb-like objects with dynamite and other party goods. On New Year's Eve, by midnight, the city's ERs are full of people missing hands and fingers.
Why were noisy/frightening and dangerous fireworks adopted for the purpose of celebration? They're quite the spectacle - only at night - but they can also be quite frightening (ask any dog!). Was it to do with scaring unwanted spirits/demons out of our dimension and back into their own?
Was Edo the capital city before 1868?
Between 1603-1867, Edo was the de-facto capital of Japan, though the useless imperial court was in Kyoto.
As for your first question, I guess it's in our nature to like noisy/annoying sometimes frightening/dangerous celebrating, like getting dead drunk and have a fight outside the pub.
In Italy we have the Orange Battle Festival where people literally throw oranges to each other. If you only want to watch without risking being hit, you have to buy a special hat.
..In contrast to Mexico, where individuals set off fireworks at any given time at any part of the street that don’t necessarily have much of any visual component, but will undoubtedly create a really loud sound.
Hanabi is also a great film by one one Japan’s greatest modern directors, Takeshi Kitano.
One small correction: 200 AD was towards the end of the Han dynasty; Song dynasty corresponds roughly to European medieval times, the middle of it was around a thousand years ago.