Held in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi, on Sunday, August 16, 2026, the Naruse Toro Nagashi Fireworks Festival grew out of a traditional event handed down in the Ono district. Rooted in the 'okuri-bon' custom of sending off ancestral spirits, it is now held with prayers for the victims of the 2011 earthquake disaster. Fireworks — 1,000 shells — rise from a mid-river embankment of the Naruse River and reflect on the calm water, drawing a crowd of about 6,000. The venue is a 15-minute walk from JR Rikuzen-Ono Station and about 5 minutes by car from the Naruse-Okumatsushima IC.
This festival took shape from a summer tradition of the Ono district in Higashimatsushima. Once carried on by local youth groups as an 'okuri-bon' rite, after the Great East Japan Earthquake it has been continued with the consolation of the disaster's victims and hopes for recovery woven in — which is why its fireworks carry a quieter feeling than a typical summer spectacle. The venue is the Naruse River bank, where 1,000 shells are launched from a mid-river embankment, their glow settling onto the slow-moving water in a scene unique to this festival. Food stalls appear in the evening, so plan to spend the hours before the launch riverside, waiting from a spot along the water. Confirm the latest details from the organizer before heading out.