Starting in late July, NILS will be on summer break for about a month. If you’re studying abroad in Japan, there’s an event you definitely shouldn’t miss during summer break: the fireworks festivals held all over Japan.

　〇 The Origins of Fireworks Festivals

　It is said that fireworks festivals in Japan began as a result of a famine and an outbreak of infectious disease that occurred in 1733—about 290 years ago. At that time, the shogun ruling Japan ordered fireworks to be set off during a festival to console the spirits of the dead and ward off evil spirits. Although they were initially launched as a form of mourning, their purpose gradually shifted to “cooling off” and “competition,” and the tradition continued to evolve.

「写真AC」より

○ Enjoying Fireworks Festivals

　At Japanese fireworks festivals, enjoying the fireworks is, of course, a highlight, but eating food from the festival stalls is also a major part of the fun. A wide variety of foods are sold, such as takoyaki, yakisoba, candied apples, and shaved ice. It’s also fun to discover foods that you can only find at these stalls.

〇Fireworks Festivals in Fukuoka

Here are some fireworks festivals held annually in Fukuoka Prefecture.

・Yume HANABI (Ogori City) – Held near the NILS Ogori Campus.

・Chikugo River Fireworks Festival (Kurume City) – 12,000 fireworks will be launched.

・Kanmon Strait Fireworks Festival (Kitakyushu City) – You can see 18,000 fireworks. It’s a very large fireworks festival.

　Summer in Fukuoka isn’t just about the heat. There are also plenty of fun events. Why not study Japanese in Fukuoka? If you’re interested, please check out the school’s Instagram as well.

Instagram:@nils_japan