Omagari Fireworks Festival

On 25th August, hubby and I went to see Omagari Fireworks Festival in Daisen City of Akita prefecture. It is one of the major fireworks festivals in Japan that has been held since 1910 on the dry bed of Omonogawa River. It is actually an annual national fireworks competition where selected fireworks artists from all over Japan compete to show off their latest fireworks products and techniques. This year was the 86th edition of Omagari Fireworks Festival, and about 18000 fireworks were displayed. The festival attracted about 760000 spectators from entire Japan to Daisen City. For those who are interested, the details about Japanese fireworks, shapes, and sizes can be found at this homepage (please click here).

Hubby and I go every year to see Omagari Fireworks Festival, and viewing the fireworks has now become an annual ritual for us. On 25th August, we started from our home at about 9 am and took two foldable picnic chairs and a picnic sheet with us. It took us about 1.5 hours of car ride to reach Daisen City. Hubby had to park our car at a parking area that was very far from the fireworks display venue. So we had to walk for about an hour to reach the venue. While walking we saw many rice fields on both sides of the narrow road. We also saw a few booths that were set up next to the road, probably to guide the visitors. As we neared the festival site, we saw that many local police were busy helping in managing the large crowd. On reaching the festival site, we searched for an open area for seating and were lucky to get a nice place to sit within fifteen minutes of our search. We spread the picnic sheet and reserved an area of about 4 square meters, which was enough for us to sit comfortably and view the fireworks.

From the car parking area, we walked on this road that leads to the fireworks display venue in Daisen City

Rice field on one side of the road

I am walking on the road

We walked for about an hour

A booth next to the road

Local police near the festival site

Large crowd walking towards the entrance of the festival site

The entrance of the festival site as viewed at about noon. Note that there is hardly any crowd yet at the venue.

After getting a seating area at the fireworks festival site, we realized that it was just 12.15 pm and still many hours remained for the fireworks display to begin. It was a sunny and hot day, and impossible for us to sit under direct sunlight for another 5.5 hours. So we left the fireworks display venue and went to a nearby park where there were many trees with shades. However there was hardly any empty space remaining, and so we just sat down next to a building. It was too hot and so we bought two packs of ice cubes to cool our feet. Hubby bought yakisoba fried noodles, yakitori skewered chicken, kakigori shaved ice dessert, and cold drinks from a nearby food stall. We had the food and yakisoba was really delicious. Afterwards the weather became extremely hot and humid, and therefore we decided to move and find another place to relax. Fortunately on that particular weekend day, Daisen City Hall was opened to the public and we could spend the next couple of hours in air-conditioned room. It was too comfortable inside the city hall, and we relaxed and hubby dozed off for a couple of hours.

Hubby very tired and using a pack of ice cubes to cool his feet

Daisen City Hall

Inside the city hall

I am sitting on the floor inside the city hall

We had local sweets while relaxing inside the city hall

The display of daytime fireworks called hiru hanabi started at 5 pm but we skipped seeing it as we were not much interested. At about 5.45 pm, we left Daisen City Hall and walked back to the fireworks display venue. We had some difficulty in finding the seating area that we had reserved earlier in the day as the crowd at the festival site had increased tremendously. Eventually we found our seating area and sat down. Many people around us were busy eating and drinking with friends and relatives.

View of the crowded fireworks festival site to our left side as seen from our seating area

View of the festival site in front of us

View of the festival site to our right side

I am relaxing at our seating area

Hubby relaxing at our seating area

At 6.50 pm the nighttime fireworks display started with an ‘opening event’. We took a few photos and I compiled a video of this wonderful fireworks display.

Various fireworks patterns of the ‘opening event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the ‘opening event’ of the fireworks display

Next, the nighttime national fireworks competition started. Omagari annual national fireworks competition is divided into three categories, which are daytime fireworks (hiru hanabi), 30 centimeters round shell fireworks (10-gou warimono), and creative fireworks (sozo hanabi). The daytime fireworks was already over, which we skipped seeing. For the 30 centimeters round shell fireworks and creative fireworks categories, this year twenty eight fireworks artists and manufacturers from all over Japan competed and showed off their techniques. There were spectacular displays of fireworks that used latest fireworks technology and intricate techniques. We enjoyed viewing various kinds of colorful shapes and patterns formed in the night sky. Since every year we take lots of photos of creative fireworks display, this year we skipped taking pictures and just enjoyed the wonderful show.

In between the creative fireworks competition, there were five grand fireworks displays called ‘sponsored special event’. These fireworks displays were not included in the competition but were wonderful and choreographed to exciting popular music. The fireworks rose into the sky one after another and then exploded into spectacular colorful patterns. We took many photos of the fireworks patterns and I compiled videos of all the five ‘sponsored special events’ of the fireworks display.

Various fireworks patterns of the first ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

Several more patterns of the first ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the first ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

Various fireworks patterns of the second ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

Several more patterns of the second ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the second ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

Various fireworks patterns of the third ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the third ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

Various fireworks patterns of the fourth ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

Several more patterns of the fourth ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the fourth ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

Various fireworks patterns of the fifth ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the fifth ‘sponsored special event’ of the fireworks display

In addition, there was a fireworks display called the ‘main event’ where different fireworks artists and manufacturers collaborated to give an exquisite display of colors, lights, patterns, and sound. The theme of the main event was ‘Believe - yume o mirai ni tsunageyou’ which means ‘Believe - connect our dreams to the future’. About 2600 fireworks were launched in five and a half minutes. The fireworks were deployed synchronously from several locations spread out across a large area of 550 meters. We were overwhelmed by the masterpieces and passion of the fireworks craftsmen that were on grand display. This fireworks display made a great impression on us. We took many photos of the fireworks patterns and I compiled a video of this extraordinary fireworks display.

Various fireworks patterns of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

More patterns of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

Still more patterns of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

The display of creative fireworks by various fireworks manufacturers continued after the ‘main event’. At about 9.30 pm, there was a ‘final event’ where a fantastic display of mostly round shell fireworks was carried out. We left the fireworks venue before the display of the ‘final event’ began but saw it while walking back towards the car parking area. It took us about one hour to walk back to the car parking where we had parked our car. It was about 0.15 am of the next day when we reached back our home. We loved the exquisite and spectacular display of fireworks at Omagari Fireworks Festival.

Iga Ueno Castle

On 14th August, hubby and I visited Iga Ueno Castle located in Iga-Ueno City of Mie prefecture. This castle is located in Ueno Park along with Iga-ryu Ninja Museum that we had visited earlier in the day. Iga Ueno Castle is an elegant white colored hilltop castle sitting on huge stone walls, which creates a beautiful image in the quite surrounding area. The castle is also known as Hakuho-jo or White Phoenix Castle. The castle is situated in the northern hill of the city, and was founded by Takigawa Katsutoshi in 1585. However he was soon dispossessed of his lands by feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tsutsui Sadatsugu was appointed as a successor of the castle. Sadatsugu constructed the innermost bailey (honmaru) and a three storied main tower donjon (tenshu) of the castle. Sadatsugu was then succeeded by Todo Takatora. Takatora had an uncanny military prowess and political sense, and after initially serving Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he sided with feudal lord Tokugawa Ieyasu at the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Therefore Takatora was in good books of Ieyasu. In 1608 Sadatsugu was accused of poor governance, his lands were confiscated, and his clan was abolished by Ieyasu. In his place, Ieyasu installed Takatora as the successor of the castle. Takatora was renowned as one of the finest castle architects of his time. He initiated a major renovation of the castle to fortify the defenses against a resurgence of Hideyoshi's followers. He built 30 meters high walls encircling the main tower donjon of the honmaru, which to this day remains the tallest walls of any castle in Japan. He also began rebuilding the donjon of the castle as a white five storied structure. Unfortunately, before the five storied donjon could be completed, it was destroyed by a rainstorm in 1612. It was also around that time that Toyotomi clan was destroyed and the threat of any rebellion had already passed, and therefore this castle was not considered as important as it once was. As a result, it was decided not to rebuild the donjon of the castle. This led to the castle being without a donjon tower for the next 320 years. The castle gradually started decaying and fell into ruin, and was completely abandoned in 1871. In 1935, a local politician named Kawasaki Katsu financed the reconstruction of a three leveled and three storied main donjon and an adjacent smaller two storied donjon. This reconstructed donjon is made of wood and not concrete, and maintains the essence of Momoyama style architecture of the late 16th century. The main donjon now serves as a museum, and has a collection of artifacts related to the history of the castle and Iga-Ueno City. The castle is now a national historic site.

Iga Ueno Castle is located in Ueno Park very near to Iga-ryu Ninja Museum. We had visited the ninja museum earlier in the day. Afterwards, from the ninja museum we walked for about ten minutes and reached the castle. As we neared the castle premises, we got a wonderful view of the three storied main donjon among the trees in the park. At the honmaru area, we took several photos of the donjon from various angles and positions. From the castle premises located on a hilltop, we saw the water filled castle moat and the famous 30 meters high original walls of the honmaru. In addition, we got stunning views of Iga-Ueno city and the surrounding mountains in the background.

Castle donjon among the trees in the park

Me along with the main and small donjons in the background

The donjons as viewed from another position inside the castle premises

I am standing near the entrance of the donjon

Water filled moat of the castle

Side view of the 30 meters high original walls of the honmaru

Iga-Ueno city and the mountains in the background as viewed from the hilltop castle premises

At the entrance of the castle donjon, we paid 500 Yen per person as admission fee to enter inside the main donjon to see the museum. The main donjon has castle related historic materials on display. The first floor of the donjon has a main hall that is very open and spacious. In this hall, we saw a statue of a ninja climbing up a wall. Iga clan ninja were known to stealthily infiltrate this castle for information and secret missions. In the center of the main hall, there is a display of a sitting statue of Todo Takatora along with three armors and helmets. This floor has several display cases exhibiting a collection of armors, helmets, weaponry, and pottery works from Tsutsui era as well as Todo era. We loved a Toukan style helmet that is exhibited in this floor. Toyotomi Hideyoshi gave this helmet to Todo Takatora, and then it was passed on to Todo Yoshishige who wore it at the Battle of Osaka. This helmet is now designated as a Mie prefecture cultural asset. This floor also has an interesting display case exhibiting ornamental roof tiles and Shachihoko used in the construction and architectural design of the roof of the donjons. Shachihoko is an animal in Japanese folklore which is believed to protect the castles from fire. In addition, we saw a model of a litter (vehicle) named Norimono that was used as a mode of transport by Todo clan. We also saw a beautiful scale model of the castle which was created by a stained glass craftsman named Horiguchi Kenjiro of Tsu City.

Entrance of the main donjon

Main hall of the first floor showing a statue of a ninja climbing up the wall

The main hall as viewed from another angle

Sitting statue of Todo Takatora along with three armors and helmets exhibited in the center of the main hall

I am standing next to the statue of Todo Takatora and the armors

Armors

Few more armors

Hubby standing next to the display of several more armors

Toukan style helmet

Helmets

More helmets

Throat and neck guards and protectors; some of them can also protect cheek and face

Weapons

Pottery works

I am standing next to the display of ornamental roof tiles and Shachihoko

Norimono

A scale model of the castle

The second floor of the main donjon has several displays cases exhibiting many beautifully written scrolls, pottery works, and paintings of Todo Takatora and his clan. Photos of all the castles of feudal era Japan are also displayed at this floor. Hubby explained to me about many of the castles but I was not really listening to him as I was busy looking at the scrolls. So he got a bit annoyed with me.

I am standing at the second floor of the donjon

A painting of Todo Takatora

Scrolls

Pottery works

Hubby explaining about various castles of feudal era Japan

Hubby a bit annoyed at me

The third floor of the main donjon is more or less empty. There is a raised dais at this floor where hubby stood and enjoyed the outside view. From this floor, we could clearly see the roof of the second floor of the adjacent small donjon. Two Shachihoko that adorn this roof of the adjacent donjon looked so elegant and beautiful. The salient feature of the top floor of the main donjon is that it offers a great 360 degrees view of Iga-Ueno City. We loved viewing the city surrounded by the mountains in the background.

I am standing at the third floor of the donjon

Hubby standing on the dais

Two Shachihoko on the second floor roof of the adjacent small donjon

Shachihoko

View of Iga-Ueno City from the top floor of the main donjon

Iga-Ueno City

Another view of the city

Yet another view of the city

We enjoyed viewing the display of various historic materials exhibited inside the castle main donjon that serves as a museum. We loved visiting Iga Ueno Castle. Afterwards we left the castle premises and walked back to Ueno-shi railway station where we had parked our car. Near the railway station, we saw a huge statue of the famous poet of Edo period named Matsuo Basho who was born in this city.

Statue of Matsuo Basho near Ueno-shi railway station

We returned back to hubby’s ancestral home in Ichinomiya City and stayed there for one more day during the Obon holidays. Afterwards we returned back to Akita and to the usual life.