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It’s stated that the primary individual to witness a firework in Japan was none apart from Tokugawa Ieyasu, the primary shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, over 400 years in the past in 1613. The know-how had traveled east from China and probably Italy throughout the Sengoku interval, and gunpowder consultants developed into eager pyrotechnicians.
It wasn’t till 1733, after a cholera epidemic had eviscerated a lot of the capital’s nearly 1-million-strong inhabitants, that fireworks have been shared with commoners. Ieyasu’s descendent, Tokugawa Yoshimune, organized a spectacular fireworks show on the Sumida River to chase away the plague and pray for these already succumbed to the illness. This occasion proved pivotal within the historical past of Japanese fireworks, perpetually weaving fireworks into the material of Japanese tradition and custom.
Within the trendy age, fireworks exhibits have change into elaborate productions that may takes months of planning. Lately, with the appearance of latest know-how, elevated competitors from abroad, and a wider consciousness of sustainability, the trade has modified greater than ever earlier than. We spoke to one in every of its prime gamers, Toshikatsu Ogatsu, president of Nihonbashi Marutamaya, who flies the flag for Japanese fireworks around the globe.
Ogatsu has been working with fireworks for over 45 years, even touring around the globe to share Japanese fireworks; he’s seen extra exhibits than he can depend. He oversaw the fireworks for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Video games and was the topic of a documentary on TBS.
Toshikatsu Ogatsu, CEO of Nihonbashi Marutamaya Co., Ltd. Picture by Kim Kahan.
The Good Formation
Initially, Ogatsu didn’t wish to observe his father into the fireworks enterprise. He rebelled by finding out enterprise at college after which becoming a member of an import firm upon commencement. “I labored promoting Spanish merchandise to malls. I’ve by no means been to Spain, however I loved it,” he says.
“However then I noticed fireworks at a good — I neglect which one — and I used to be impressed. I made a decision to affix the trade. It was straightforward for me as a result of I’m a part of a fireworks household and my father had been encouraging me,” he continues.
A jovial man, Ogatsu laughs often and his ardour for fireworks is unmistakable. He always talks up his workers, who’re all busy engaged on present designs for the upcoming fireworks season. “I’m simply an previous man,” he jokes, “however they’re all nice at pondering of concepts.”
He introduces one in every of his workers, Rei Shimano, who, he says proudly, additionally performed the piano for one of many performances they synchronized to music for a planetarium occasion at Yebisu Worldwide Competition for Artwork & Various Visions.
He proceeds to indicate me the show from that occasion, which, though it’s proven on a flat display, remains to be spectacular. It could possibly be a simulation; every firework appears too excellent. “Every little thing you see there may be actual,” he confirms.
Ogatsu shares one thing I’d by no means thought of — the concept that every firework will be completely fashioned. It is a main hallmark of a typical Japanese fireworks show. At competitions in Japan, fireworks are scored based mostly on a sequence of standards, together with the very best level at which the firework explodes, the dimensions of the explosion, and its symmetry. Different international locations, akin to Canada and Italy, will decide based mostly on elements akin to peak and form.
The worldwide fireworks scene is filled with selection. Italy is legendary for its rocket fireworks, whereas Germany makes use of totally different chemical substances, making them sparkle for an particularly very long time. Japan, alternatively, is famed for its spherical fireworks, every sort with its personal corresponding identify. The names usually have floral connotations, with chrysanthemum and dahlia being two of essentially the most well-known.
Seibuen Amusement Park, 2022. Picture by Keiko Sakuta.
Destined for a Glowing Ever After
Again when it was established in 1990, Nihonbashi Marutamaya pioneered the usage of pc techniques to synchronize fireworks to music. “We nonetheless use just about the identical system. It’s simply owned by a distinct nation now,” Ogatsu says.
As of late, Marutamaya is shifting in direction of utilizing drones extra. In truth, it was one of many first home corporations to make use of them along with fireworks. The corporate lately organized a show over FC Tokyo’s soccer discipline, with drones spelling out the membership identify whereas fireworks painted the sky round them.
Ogatsu is eager to make use of drones, as they’re just like fireworks. “Portray the sky with lights — I understand how to do this,” he says. “You could possibly use them for bulletins, like displaying individuals the place the exits are.”
He does admit, although, that drones will take a while to grasp. “With fireworks, you may attain a peak of 300 meters with one. However drones, they’re tiny,” he says. The corporate presently has 400 drones with one other 400 on the way in which, confirming that they’re a part of the transfer ahead.
Fireworks Symphonia at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, 2018. Picture by Keiko Sakuta.
Hanging a Stability for Sustainability
New know-how brings up new concerns, akin to sustainability. Fireworks depart a not-insignificant carbon footprint, making low- and no-emission fireworks a important subsequent step. Ogatsu orchestrated the fireworks for all 4 ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Video games, which have been required to have no-debris fireworks. He exhibits me a video of the show filmed from above the stadium. Though it was scaled again from the unique plan due to COVID-19 restrictions, it’s spectacular. “The subsequent stage is smokeless fireworks — from autumn,” he says. “It’s onerous as a result of now we have to make them protected. However we’ll do it.”
Ogatsu’s positivity shines by way of, though he admits that it hasn’t all the time been the case. “Throughout COVID-19, our enterprise dried up,” he explains. “Individuals don’t want fireworks anymore, I believed.”
The concept of a world with out fireworks or an viewers to understand them appears bleak, particularly in a rustic which holds fireworks so expensive. However fortunately, Ogatsu was proved unsuitable. 2023 has been Marutamaya’s greatest 12 months ever as firework shows return with full applications, full of spectators touring from far and vast to benefit from the present. Identical to the primary Sumida River fireworks show lots of of years in the past, this nighttime art work within the sky continues to thrill and entertain, and can for a few years to come back.
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