Here we are with the first report of our Kansai fireworks festivals. It was by no means the first festival my wife and I have gone to – in fact it was already our fourth. And we arranged a get together of four others who had until this night been extremely apprehensive about battling the throng. They were happy. Even if it sounds like nothing, going to more than six or seven festivals in one summer is really hard work, especially when work has a way of getting in between it all, or committments with others dictate a different schedule.
Well Kobe Minato deserves a special honorable mention this year for two reasons: Firstly, there were some really new fireworks on display that have not been seen around here before. Clearly there is some interesting artisan innovation going on in the art of fireworks design and I am happy to say Japan is one of the countries at the fore-front in this area.
This particular rocket in the picture is one of those new designs. The colors are not readily discernable since my digicam isn’t sensitive to some wavelengths at night, but you get the idea anyway. Impressive and lovely display it was. Secondly, the silly ‘mood music’ that was belching out from all corners in previous years was stopped at last! It was a horrible, thundering, echoing noise that could in no way be construed as music, certainly not by anyone who has ever heard music in real life and I guess enough complaints about its inefficacy final put an end to it. Thanks for that at last. A peaceful, almost romantic mood crept in its place and we were very grateful. Make sure you attend next year! Next report about the festival at Uji-gawa will follow shortly! Take care.
Martin Werner Zander, Smith’s Partner
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Owner of Smith’s Franchise in Kotoen
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