Rules about fireworks in Japan!

Anime fans know the magic of those iconic firework scenes: the moment when two characters, after dancing around their feelings, finally intertwine their fingers. Sometimes, a heartfelt confession is swallowed by the crackle of fireworks, or a gentle kiss seals a summer night in a slice-of-life story. No matter the genre, these sparkling displays signal the bittersweet end of summer and the quiet approach of fall.

 But what about in real life? Whilst it is true that many prefectures hold fireworks displays, towns in the same prefecture will hold their own displays, meaning there are numerous displays to choose from. Fireworks are usually held throughout July to late September and even in October, depending on the location. Often these shows are accompanied by street vendors selling food, and the sea of people wearing kimonos or yukatas, depending on the season.

 But what about using fireworks? Now in the UK, fireworks are legal to buy in stores, and in private, sparklers and smaller fireworks are fine if they are held within a garden and private space, and usually before a set time. But larger fireworks are always found only at public displays, which will always end before 9pm. This topic is a hot one in the UK as there is more sentiment in banning the sale of larger fireworks for public use and leaving the bigger fireworks to the professionals. There is also increased concern about the effect fireworks have on pets and it is harder to help an animal when you do not know what days or time a local may set any fireworks off.

 Japan is not too dissimilar; it holds large fireworks displays, and the ones often seen in anime are where you will see larger explosions. These displays will also end before it gets too late out of respect for the residents in the area.

 Sparklers are a classic anime touch, their gentle glow setting the stage for two lovers to brush hands as colored sparks dance in the night. Sometimes, a boy catches a glimpse of the girl's face illuminated by the flickering light and sees her in a new way. These dreamy moments are everywhere in anime, but how do they compare to reality? Depending on the season and the setting, those same characters might be breaking the rules. In my prefecture, you can pick up sparklers and small fireworks at convenience stores, just like in the UK, where they line supermarket and corner shop shelves. But in Japan, there are strict rules about when and where you can light them.

 In my prefecture, the time window for sparklers is from late July to the end of August, and only in designated locations and times. If you are caught outside of this designated window, you may be subjected to fines. Presumably, private property is ok if it is your garden, but the same respect for time is usually observed. It may also be expected that any neighbors me alerted of your intentions. When it comes to beaches where most animes hold their sparkler scenes, the time of year and whether it is permitted will vary. Some beaches may not permit them at all, whilst others may require you to clean up and bring a bucket of water with you. In all scenarios you will be expected to take your trash with you unless otherwise stated.

 I was able to light a few sparklers on a trip to Bunny Island in Hiroshima. The rules here were in a designated area before 8pm. They also restricted it to just sparklers and provided a bucket of water. The sparklers themselves were very cheap. I still have a bag of 50 sparklers, which I bought for under nine hundred yen. But I have entered September, and almost everywhere is a no-go zone again. I also live in an apartment, so I do not have the luxury of a private garden.

 So, whilst my search for a designated space continues, it is interesting to look at sparklers and their appearance in anime. And I hope that our star-crossed lovers are within the designated time and that they are not breaking any rules that would result in the lovers becoming jailbirds!