Pillars of fire shoot up 10 meters high and sparks fall like heavy rain. The valiant and magnificent hand-held fireworks are a part of the East Mikawa region's traditional culture. Each firework weighs 4 to 5 kg, and they are carried under the arms and set off in a unique way called "hoyo". They are offered to the gods with a prayer for a good harvest. Fireworks were originally used to summon up vengeful ghosts in the Heian period, and came to be displayed at big festivals as they are in the present day during the Edo period. Hoyo is also a test of courage for the person who holds the firework as the sparks rain down on his or her body. This stunning spectacle offers the chance to experience a piece of culture that has been passed down since long ago, and also see how the fireworks are made.
※ Views like the one shown in the photo can only be seen under certain conditions (time of day, weather etc.).
The Hada Festival is held every year on the 1st Saturday and Sunday in October. The festival has a history which goes back 1300 years, and can boast that it displays the largest number of fireworks of any festival in the East Mikawa region, with around 800 being dedicated over two days. The East Mikawa region's traditional tezutsu hand-held fireworks can also be seen at the Fire Festival in Toyohashi Park and the Toyohashi Gion Festival held at Yoshida Shrine, which is said to be their birthplace.
The pleasure of travel: Toyohashi's Tezutsu Hand-Held Fireworks
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updated on Jan 8, 2016
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