
Asakawa Fireworks — 'Jiraika' brings the climax to Asakawa Fireworks
A memorial fireworks show held on August 16, during the Obon season, in Asakawa Town, Fukushima. Carrying on a tradition said to date back to the Edo period, the program of 3,000–5,000 shells includes the signature O-Karakuri and Jikaibi pieces along with memorial fireworks for the victims of the 2011 earthquake.
The show runs two hours from 7 pm at the Takinogo grounds in Asakawa. Its roots as a rite of remembrance give the evening a solemn character, and the memorial fireworks for the Great East Japan Earthquake are a moving part of the program. JR Iwaki-Asakawa Station is a ten-minute walk from the venue, and 1,300 free parking spaces are available at the elementary and junior high schools, the town hall and the health center. With 30,000–50,000 visitors expected, good spots fill early; food stalls line the grounds.