Can fireworks get any more serious than last night's Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition in Ibaraki, Japan? We think not. While we were battling for photography acceptance by the numerous 'oji-san' professionals (complete with headband flashlights, and designer camera vests) we experienced a night of deep appreciation, making friends, the kindness of strangers and loads of 'oohs' and 'ahhs'. It was also a night spent with 700,000 others, port-a-loos, and superb yattai (street vendors).
The history of this fireworks display in Tsuchiura dates back to 1925. Pyrotechnists from all over Japan come to Tsuchiura every Autumn to compete for a highly respected award and to showcase their new creations to the buyers and planners of the 2005 Summer Festivals. Mayor of Tsuichiura, the venerable Mr Nakagawa, said it like no one else; "I am sure that those who love fireworks in the whole country will enjoy the Japan No.1 fireworks literally". How true... Mr Nakagawa went on to say, "those manufacturers here today are highly qualified in its skill even among the industry in our country of the world highest level". Brilliant. Bring them on. (And if you can work out what he's talking about, please let us know...)
We were dazzled by two and a half hours of unbelievable colours, patterns and new designs that lit up the warm October sky. Amazing to have such a long chance to practice our Hanabi shots. More than 20,000 bursts in the 90 plus entries kept us truly entertained (as did the often hilarious English Translation of the official program). Our favourite titles included: "A fireworks museum - Munk's Outcry" - a winner, but the much anticpated "A golden hamster" - a fizzler... We saw the simply titled "A rainbow", the more abstract "To the world of glittering stars" and "Dramatic Fire". The baffling "A moment forever" and "An important thing". The overly ambitious, "The creation of the galaxy" and the truly 
Japanese, "A color change and brocaded chrysanthemum of triple pistils in weeping willow shape and with a wave sound at the end and a rising effect attachment". Tremendous. Just when we think we've had enough of living here, we have a weekend like this one. You (almost) forget all the kookiness and nonsense when you're lying back, watching the sky, best friend by your side, snacking on cabbage pancakes and octopus balls...
You can check out some photos from the evening here...
Loved reading about your adventures in Nippon. I'm looking forward to hearing more. Do you have a link to any of your photos?
Posted by: Jules | October 12, 2004 at 02:27 PM
Lovely shot, beauty and greatness in one.
Posted by: Daniel Olovsson | October 13, 2004 at 01:23 AM
wow to those fireworks shots!!
amazing how clear they look, what camera and settings you use? I can never get it just right :-/
still, 2,30 hours of fireworks?? thats something lol
~~
Posted by: Sandra Rocha | October 13, 2004 at 06:39 AM
Absolutely beautiful. Really good job on the fireworks, since they're not easy to photograph. Some of the best I've seen.
Posted by: Charles | October 14, 2004 at 09:44 PM