Fireworks were of course popular outside of Edo and the prospered domains during Edo, but as Japan entered Meiji (where she went through a major restoration coming in contact with the West) chemicals including potassium chlorate, aluminum, magnesium, strontium carbonate and barium nitrate were imported, which not only allowed increasing colors but also made a remarkable change in the brightness. These chemicals were imported gradually during 1879 through 1887, and the fireworks in Japan changed dramatically due to the encounter of new ingredients.
The introduction of new chemicals brought forth new fireworks, but it also brought more accidents mostly due to the lack of knowledge in how to handle them. Until then, fireworks did not require licenses but license permission system soon started in 1910. Before, production of fireworks were mainly done by farmers more as part of their past-time hobbies, but from this point the fireworks production became an independent profession of those who have sufficient knowledge on chemicals and chemistry.
By the Taisho Period metal powders such as magnesium and aluminum were used as emission ingredients, creating bright and vivid fire flowers. Soon after fireworks that make loud explosion sounds were developed with the invention of gunpowder mixed of potassium chlorate and realgar.
Fireworks continued to enjoy rapid development until the beginning of Showa Period when wars spread around the world, not to mention the huge involvement of Japan in it. September 1945, the first postwar fireworks were held at Suwa Shrine in Nagano City, but the production of gunpowder was soon banned by the Allied Powers in the following October.
Nevertheless, a Japanese fireworks company was in charge of the Fourth of July Ceremonies at the American Camps across the country on 1946, and the tradition of fireworks displays gradually started to come back to Japanese people as seen in the 14th National Fireworks Competition (September 29 /30, 1946) and the Commemoration Ceremony of the new constitution in front of the Imperial Palace in 1947 (this ended up being the last fireworks being held there).
With the strong persuasion of the Japanese fireworks companies, the GHQ permitted to use up all the fireworks in stock in 1948. August 1st 1948, the Sumidagawa Fireworks was back. At this time, only 600 shots were permitted but 700,000 people came to appreciate the fireworks in the beginning of the new peaceful age.
After WWII, Japanese fireworks with high reputation spread out overseas including toy fireworks, but today the import from China is larger than the export all together. Most of the companies are small to middle in size, taking a hereditary system.
The production takes more than half a year, and is impossible to have mass production for it can only be done with human hands in most of the process. Being a dangerous profession, despite its popularity for centuries there had not been many displays and competitions for a long time during mid 20th century. It is said that there were only about 10-20 shows even in the early 1980s.
Yet, inexpensive fireworks from China started to flow in and due to the invention of electric firing system by Amano Osamu the 14th master of Kagiya, firing became relatively safe. With these two reasons, shows increased at once counting up to more than two hundred in one summer.
Hence, fireworks grasped the hearts of common people and are constantly developing. For the past few years, a new genre of fireworks with popular characters from shows is appearing to be popular. Being both old and new, fireworks are undoubtedly loved by Japanese people and are a
great part of daily life and entertainment. Knowing the historical and cultural is sure to show you more beauty and give more sentiments. |
