Fireworks Trivia & Fun Facts Summary
Fireworks have long been loved by many people as a classic symbol of summer.
From large aerial fireworks to simple handheld sparklers, they come in many sizes and shapes—but plenty of people enjoy them all the same.
In this article, we’ll introduce a collection of fun facts related to fireworks all at once!
We’ve gathered a wide range of topics, from how to enjoy watching fireworks to their history, so learn lots of trivia as you read!
They’re all the kind of tidbits that will make you want to share them with someone once you know them, so please enjoy!
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Fireworks trivia & fun facts roundup (11–20)
It’s better to take photos of fireworks from upwind.
Fireworks are really difficult to photograph, aren’t they? People say you can improve your shots by slowing the shutter speed or fixing the exposure, but choosing the right location matters even more than settings! The best place to shoot fireworks is upwind from the launch site.
If you shoot from the downwind side, the smoke will drift over and make your photos look hazy.
An upwind spot that gives you clear photos is also great even if you’re just watching without taking pictures.
Keep this in mind and give fireworks photography a try!
The first fireworks I saw in Japan were by Date Masamune.
The first person in Japan to see fireworks was the Sengoku warlord Date Masamune, also known as the “One-Eyed Dragon Masamune.” In 1582, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, there is a record that fireworks were displayed at Yonezawa Castle in Yamagata Prefecture, where Date Masamune was born, by Tōjin—foreigners from China.
Later, in 1613 during the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu is said to have been shown fireworks at Sunpu Castle in Shizuoka Prefecture by an envoy from the King of England.
Inspired by the fireworks Ieyasu saw, fireworks spread rapidly throughout Japan.
Even the warlords who lived through an age of turmoil must have been captivated by their beauty.
The first fireworks festival in Japan was the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.
During the Edo period, when Tokugawa Yoshimune was shogun, a great famine and a cholera epidemic swept the country, claiming many lives.
To console the souls of the deceased and drive away the plague, Yoshimune held a water deity festival on the Sumida River.
As part of the entertainment at that time, fireworks were launched—this is said to be the origin of the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.
Unlike today’s colorful displays, the fireworks were smaller and subdued in color.
Incidentally, the famous shouts of “Tamaya” and “Kagiya” heard when fireworks go up are also said to have originated on the Sumida River.
Tear off the fluttering paper at the tip of the handheld firework before lighting it.
What do you do with the fluttery paper at the tip of a handheld firework? Believe it or not, the correct way is to tear off that paper and light the firework on the exposed tip! That paper is called the “hosaki,” and it’s attached to keep the powder inside from spilling and to protect it.
Because the protected tip becomes tougher, it can be harder to light, and in rare cases it may even burst if you try to light it as-is.
That’s why you should tear off the fluttery paper—the hosaki—before lighting handheld fireworks.
This is often written on the fireworks’ packaging, so be sure to check carefully before enjoying them!
There are two types of sparklers.
Sparklers may feel delicate amid the lively burst of fireworks, but did you know there are actually two types? In eastern Japan (Kanto) and western Japan (Kansai), sparklers differ.
In Kanto, the mainstream type is called nagate-botan, a sparkler with gunpowder wrapped in colorful paper.
In the Kansai region, people have long favored the subote-botan type, which has gunpowder attached to the tip of a straw.
Because rice cultivation thrived in Kansai, the plentiful straw with gunpowder attached is said to be the original form of the sparkler.
In Kanto, where papermaking was more common than rice growing, people used paper instead of straw.
There’s also a difference in how you hold them: you point the Kanto nagate-botan slightly downward after lighting it, while the Kansai subo-botan is held slightly upward.
In conclusion
We introduced lots of fun facts about fireworks, ranging from little tidbits about aerial fireworks and handheld sparklers to topics related to their history.
Be sure to remember the facts we shared in this article and try talking about them with your family and friends!