Fireworks view from our 'pent-house'

What do you associate with summer? In Japan, fireworks are the real feeling of summer. People wear yukata (Japanese traditional costumes), go to festivals, eat or play something at stalls, and watch fireworks. One of the typical celebration during summer is hanabi-taikai i.e firework displays.

Large-scale fireworks displays are held regularly at various locations. Here in Fukuoka the largest fireworks displays is held at Ohori Koen (read: Hanabi (Fireworks) in Fukuoka). We also have large fireworks displays at Imajuku Seaside which is about 500m away from our house. For the last 2 years we went to the seaside to enjoy Hanabi.

But for this year, we didn't went to the seaside and just enjoying the hanabi from our 'penthouse'. Both SN and I just sit down by the window and watch the fireworks display from our window.

+- mengintai dari tirai tingkap -+

The Japanese fireworks fall mainly under three categories based on different scattering results: warimono, kowarimono, and pokamono.

(1) Warimono (round) shell

• The warimono bursts into sizzling stars distributed in equal distance from the center to resemble petals of a chrysanthemum.

• The magnificence of this rupture stems from the diverse color coordination and smaller additional cores in the center of the firework bloom.

+- macam-macam warna ada -+

(2) Kowarimono (subdivided) shell

• Instead of one awesome floral blossom, the kowarimono ejects a multiple of tiny chrysanthemums blooms all at once.

(3) Pokamono

• Unlike the floral shower, the pokamono splits into two hemispheres while in the air, casting stars in one direction as sparks fly erratically and part as traces of smoke.

• more or less breaking powder than Warimono, Not made so large size(over 6 inches) shell usually. It possible to look as "Jetting Comet" or "Bee and bees" frequently.

There's also new style fireworks which still carry old style fireworks into new style. These firework is looking for "Irregularity" by breaking up regularity. These new age's fireworks are not so similar to the traditional one and it consists of new shape such as heart shaped, spiral shaped, dandelion, star and etc.

+- ada tompok-tompok, ada bentuk 'heart'; ada spiral; ada bentuk payung..macam-macam ada lah -+

SN was feeling a little bit intimidated with the loud sounds of "Sizz...Whew...Kaboom!Poppop-pop! Fuss...Fizz..." made by the sounds of thunderous booms, crackles and pops which have evoked natural fear for him.

+- budak kecik yang takut dengan bunyi kuat -+

Here's a video of the hanabi viewed form our 'penthouse' window panel. In this video, SN speaks in Japanese with mommy trying so hard to continue the conversation with him in Japanese too.

+- Translation :- *kore nanda = apa ini?; *hanabi = bunga api; * kowaii = takut; * kowai-ku-nai = jangan takut; * kirei = cantik; * sugoi = cool/best; *daijobu? = are u OK?; *owari? = it's over?; *,mada = not yet; *yatta = yeay! -+

As for me, the spectacular flashes, sparkles, and fizzles of fireworks superimposed against a backdrop of billions of celestial stars had been well worth the loud sounds.

+- cantik kan? -+

Luckily our house is on the 5th floor, thus explain why we have such clear view of those large fireworks. But when it comes to smaller fireworks, our view was somehow blocked by another 5th story apartment building in front of our building.

+- bangunan 5 tingkat depan bangunan 'penthouse' kami -+

Nevertheless, I am happy with it because I don't have to be in the crowd in this summer season, what more in this Ramadhan month. Plus, I bet SN will be crying hysterically if we went any nearer to the fireworks because the loud sounds scared him.

+- duduk kat hujung sofa je, tak nak duduk dekat dengan tingkap -+

As a tradition, fireworks have evolved over hundreds of years, becoming highly entertaining, enticing, and ever increasingly adored by the Japanese. Emulating the beauty of nature, a spectacular hanabi is like a photo worth a thousand words.

Meanwhile today is a holiday for Obon i.e. a Buddhist festival in honor of the spirits of the dead who return to their families. It was celebrated from August 13 to 16. It is the biggest yearly holiday in Japan after New Years (shougatsu), and is a time for family and relatives to get together.

Mula-mula plan nak buat biskut raya sempena cuti umum dan jugak 'cuti puasa' hari ini tapi tiba-tiba tak ada mood pulak. Ada siapa-siapa yang kat Nihon nak buat jualan biskut raya tak?. I nak tempah eheh.

Pssssttt: no pic of mine in this entry sebab I malas nak pakai tudung dalam rumah eheh.

# Info about hanabi: Japanese about

~ Thanks for reading this (^-*) ~