長岡花火大会 Nagaoka Fireworks Festival

(English version below)

平和への祈りを夜空に込めて ― 長岡花火大会に行ってきた

夏といえば花火。花火といえば夏。日本では花火は夏の象徴として人々の心に根づいており、7月から9月にかけて全国各地で花火大会が開かれる。河川敷や海辺に人々が集まり、夜空を彩る大輪の花火を眺める。浴衣を着て出かけたり、屋台で焼きそばやかき氷を食べたりするのも楽しみ方のひとつである。

数ある花火大会のなかでも特に有名なのが、新潟県長岡市（東京から約2時間）で毎年8月2日と3日に開催される「長岡花火大会」である。来場者は2日間で100万人以上ともいわれ、日本三大花火大会のひとつに数えられている。戦後、空襲で亡くなった人々の慰霊と復興を祈って始まった歴史があり、今も「平和への祈り」をテーマにしている。

今年、私は念願の長岡花火を初めて体験した。チケットは抽選制で人気が高いのだが、友人が有料観覧席を当ててくれたおかげで参加できた。

当日は、近くのスーパーで食べ物と飲み物を調達した後、会場へ移動した。

川沿いに広がる観客の数は圧倒的で、それだけでもお祭りの雰囲気と高揚感を味わえた。

日が暮れると、いよいよ花火開始のアナウンスがあり、みんなで息を呑んで見守った。

静寂の中、一発の花火がゆっくりと空に上がっていき、空に白一色の花を咲かせた。

毎年冒頭に３発打ち上げられるこの花火は、「白菊（しらぎく）」と呼ばれ、戦没者を慰霊し、平和を祈念する意味が込められている。

（日本では白い菊は葬儀などでお供えに使われる花である）

その後、音楽が始まり、それにあわせて花火が次々と打ち上げられ始めた。

日本の花火は職人技が光り、色や形が非常に多彩である。丸い大輪だけでなく、不規則に動くものや、ニコちゃんマークや不死鳥をかたどったものまであった。約2時間も続いたが、花火があがるたびにその色や形・大きさに歓声があがっており、次はどんな花火だろう、とずっと飽きることなく楽しめた。

特に大きなものは打ち上げ幅が約2kmにわたり、スマホカメラにもおさまりきらないくらいだった。

それぞれの花火に説明のアナウンスがあり、地元企業が会社のカラーの花火を上げていたり、高校の卒業生がお金を出し合って上げていたり、花火に込められた想いを知ることもできて楽しかった。

すべての花火が終わったあとは、花火師さんへ感謝の気持ちを表すため、観客全員でスマホライトを持って手を大きく振った。まわりが光に包まれ、会場の一体感が感じられた。

念願かなった初めての長岡花火。人の多さは想像以上だったが、指定席のおかげで並ぶ必要もなく快適に楽しめた。

これまで各地で花火を見てきたが、長岡花火は綺麗さも迫力も別格だった。音の迫力、夜空に広がる無数の光と、すべてが圧巻。そして「祈り」と「感動」が同居する特別な時間。

絶対にまた訪れたいと思える体験だった。

(Translated from Japanese)

A Prayer for Peace Carried into the Night Sky —

the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival

In Japan, summer means fireworks. And fireworks, in turn, mean summer. Fireworks are deeply rooted in the hearts of the Japanese as a symbol of the season. From July through September, fireworks festivals are held all across the country.

People gather along riversides and beaches to watch enormous blossoms of light unfold in the night sky. Part of the fun lies in dressing in yukata (summer kimono), enjoying yakisoba and shaved ice from street stalls, and soaking in the festive atmosphere.

Among the many fireworks festivals in Japan, one of the most famous is the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, held every year on 2nd and 3rd August in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture — about two hours from Tokyo. It's said that over a million people attend over the two-day period, making it one of Japan’s “Three Great Fireworks Festivals.”

The festival has a profound origin: it began after World War II to honor the victims of air raids and to pray for the city’s recovery. Even today, it continues under the theme of “A Prayer for Peace.”

This year, I finally had the chance to experience the Nagaoka fireworks for the first time — a long-held dream of mine. Tickets are distributed through a lottery system due to their popularity, but thanks to a friend who won seats in the paid viewing area, I was able to attend.

On the day of the event, we picked up food and drinks at a nearby supermarket and made our way to the venue. The sheer number of spectators lining the river was overwhelming, and just being among the crowd brought a sense of festivity and excitement.

As the sun began to set, an announcement signaled the start of the fireworks. Everyone held their breath in anticipation.

In the stillness of the evening, a single firework rose slowly into the sky and bloomed into a pure white flower.

These opening three shots, launched every year at the start of the show, are known as “Shiragiku” (White Chrysanthemums). They are a solemn tribute to the war dead, filled with prayers for peace. (In Japan, white chrysanthemums are often used as offerings at funerals.)

After that, the music began—and with it, a cascade of fireworks lit up the sky in perfect sync with the rhythm.

Japanese fireworks are known for their exceptional craftsmanship, and their variety in color and form was stunning. Beyond the classic spherical bursts, there were erratic patterns, smiling faces, even phoenix-shaped displays.

The show lasted around two hours, but with each new firework, the sky lit up in a different color, shape, and scale, drawing cheers and awe from the crowd. I never once felt bored; each moment was a new delight.

Some of the larger displays spanned almost two kilometers across — so wide they couldn’t even fit in a smartphone camera frame.

Each firework was introduced with a short announcement, explaining who had sponsored it and why. Some were launched by local companies using their brand colors; others were funded by groups of high school alumni. Learning the personal stories and sentiments behind the fireworks added a meaningful layer to the experience.

At the end of the show, the entire audience waved their smartphone lights to show appreciation for the pyrotechnicians. The glow spread across the venue, wrapping everything in a warm, unified light — a moment of shared gratitude.

This first visit to the Nagaoka Fireworks, long a dream of mine, finally came true. Though the crowds were larger than I had imagined, the reserved seating made the experience incredibly comfortable.

I’ve seen fireworks in many places before, but Nagaoka’s were in a league of their own — both in beauty and scale. The thunderous sound, the countless lights scattering across the night sky — every bit of it was breathtaking. It was a truly extraordinary experience, where “prayer” and “emotion” coexisted in a single moment.

It’s an experience I’ll never forget — and one I’m certain I’ll return for again.