Shinoda Fireworks

Summary

A traditional event held annually on May 4 at Shinoda Shrine in Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture. Legend has it that the tradition began in the Edo period when fireworks were made using saltpeter and dedicated to the shrine as a token of gratitude for answered prayers for rain. It is counted among the festivals that constitute the nationally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property "Omihachiman Fire Festivals." The main feature is the rare traditional "wabi" fireworks, where a mixture of sulfur, saltpeter, and paulownia ash is applied to cedar boards to create picture fireworks that reveal intricate designs. The display spans approximately 10 meters in height and 22 meters in width, with different motifs depicted each year, and the pale bluish-white light of the sulfur flames illuminates the night sky like fireflies.

Overview

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