Fireworks on the Sumida River

Damien Liu-Brennan and Tadao Yoshida Abstract: Fireworks (hanabi) were originally displayed on the Sumida River in 1733 as a memorial service for the victims of starvation due to crop failures and plague, and an epidemic of cholera. The fireworks display originated as the “Ryōgoku Kawabiraki Hanabi” (Ryōgoku River-Opening Fireworks) with only 20 fireworks displayed. Although …
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