Fireworks display across Japan to cheer up virus-weary public
TOKYO: Dozens of fireworks displays erupted simultaneously across Japan on Monday to cheer up the public, urge the gods to end the coronavirus pandemic and provide practice for struggling pyrotechnic artisans.
More than 160 manufacturers launched their displays at precisely 8pm at secret locations across the country for a fiveminute display called ‘ Cheer up Hanabi’ (fireworks).
In an era of social distancing, the synchronised shows were designed to be long enough for people to rush to balconies or doorsteps to see them but too short for people to race to the launch sites.
With traditional summer festivals cancelled due to the coronavirus, fireworks artisans said they wanted to bring light to the skies during these dark times.
“Historically fireworks in Japan have been launched to pray for the eradication of plagues and to console the spirits of the
Historically fireworks in Japan have been launched to pray for the eradication of plagues and to console the spirits of the deceased. Kouhei Ogatsu
deceased,” Tokyo cra sman Kouhei Ogatsu, 38, told AFP.
“In the business we have been discussing what we can do in this society that has been changed so much by the coronavirus,” and decided to hold shows nationwide to cheer up the public, he said.
The pandemic has been particularly harsh for fireworks producers who spend all year making and testing their cra s and now are unable to sell them because summer festivals have been called off, said Ogatsu, whose family has run a fireworks business in Tokyo since 1864.
Artisans need to keep making fireworks in order to maintain their skills. But they can only keep a certain amount of gunpowder by law, forcing them to search for ways to use their stock but avoid encouraging crowds.
Even before the coronavirus spelled the end for many summer festivals, several fireworks displays had been rescheduled or cancelled due to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Now that the Games have been postponed until next summer, displays could be pushed back yet another year to free up resources such as security guards for the sporting event.
“For fireworks manufacturers, the exit from the pandemic is far, far away,” Ogatsu said. — AFP