Video introduction of the 30th "Aka River Fireworks Display 2023" in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture This time, we would like to introduce the movie "The 30th Aka River Fireworks Festival 2023 "Hikari, and Beyond" -Thanks to the past and the future-" produced by AQUA Geo Graphic. The 30th Aka River Fireworks Festival 2023 "Hikari and Beyond" - Thanks for the past and for the future - 5 programs from the opening fireworks to the closing fireworks (Pana S5 + BRAW)" （感動日本一 ! 第30回 赤川花火記念大会 2023「ひかり、その先へ」～これまでの感謝とこれからの未来へ～ オープニング花火からエンディング花火まで全5プログラム　(Pana S5 + BRAW)）produced by "AQUA Geo Graphic". In the video, you can see the "Aka River Fireworks Festival" in 2023, a program from opening to closing by five smoke stores. The most impressive fireworks in Japan! Please enjoy the beautiful 32-minute video of the fireworks of the "Akagawa Fireworks Festival". What are the features of the Yamagata "Aka River Fireworks Festival"? Photo：Akagawa Fireworks Festival The "Akagawa Fireworks Festival" held on the banks of the Akagawa River in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, is one of the most famous fireworks festivals in Yamagata. About 12,000 fireworks are shot off, and about 350,000 people visit the festival every year. The Aka River Fireworks Festival, held on the 700-meter wide riverbed, is a national design fireworks competition in which selected pyrotechnicians compete to shoot off their best fireworks. There are two categories of fireworks, the "design fireworks" category and the "split fireworks" category, and the fireworks launched with an impact sound are truly spectacular. Every year, a large-scale program is incorporated, attracting viewers with its dramatic presentation. The spectacular fireworks show fused with music and the musical starmine, which is shot over a width of approximately 700 meters, is a powerful spectacle. The theme for 2023 was "Hikari, to the future - Thanks for all that has been done and for the future to come," with programs such as the special program "Ultra Seven" and the future fireworks "Fly to the Future". The theme for the 2024 event is "New Flowers: Weaving Inspiration and Hope for the Future. The contents of the program have not yet been announced at this time, but we are sure that you will be able to see a wonderful and memorable fireworks show. When is the Yamagata Prefecture "Aka River Fireworks Display 2024"? What are the paid seats? The "Akagawa Fireworks Festival" will be held for the 31st time. The schedule for 2024 is as follows. The 31st Akagawa Fireworks Festival Fireworks Display Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024 Place: Akagawa riverside (Mikawa Bridge - Haguro Bridge), Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture All spectator seats, including free seats, are reserved seats. Free local-only "tournament support seats," which are limited to citizens of Tsuruoka and Mikawacho, have been available for lottery applications since May. General sales of paid spectator seats will begin at 10:00 a.m. on July 1, 2024. Various types of seats will be available, including sajiki seats (for four people), pipe chair seats (for four people), two-person chair seats (for two people), and leisure seat seats (for four people). In addition, "Repeater Sales" tickets will be available in June. Repeaters are encouraged to check the official website for details. Recommended Summer Tourist Spots in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture Photo：Akagawa If you are visiting Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture in the summer, why not climb Mt. Gassan, where you can enjoy the beautiful mountain greenery? Gassan, which rises 1,984 meters above sea level, is one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, and can be reached by bus to the eighth station. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach the summit from the eighth station of Mt. In addition to the Gassan Midagahara Marshland, where alpine flora such as Mizubashou and Nikkoukisuge can be seen, there is Gassan Shrine, where the guardian deity "Tsukuyominomikoto" is enshrined, at the summit of the mountain. Visitors will be able to fully enjoy the wonderful nature and views. For those who prefer indoor activities, the Tsuruoka Kamo Municipal Aquarium is recommended. Fish, seals, and sea turtles can be seen here, but the main attraction is jellyfish. About 80 different species of jellyfish can be seen here at any given time. In a 5-meter-diameter tank called the "Jellyfish Dream Theater," about 10,000 water jellyfish float fantastically in the water. Many visitors have commented that they were healed by the sight of the fluffy jellyfish floating in the water. Summary Photo：Akagawa Fireworks Festival It is the most popular fireworks festival in Japan! There are tours from major travel companies as well, so if you want to visit from afar, you should book a hotel and plan your schedule in advance. We hope this video has you interested in the amazing Akagawa Fireworks Festival! On the day of the fireworks display, food stalls (night stalls) and street vendors line the streets, which are crowded with people dressed in yukata (light cotton kimono) and other clothing of their choice. The outline of the 2024 Aka River Fireworks Festival is as follows. For more details, please check the official website. ◆Outline of the 2024 Aka River Fireworks Festival◆ [Schedule] August 17, 2024 (Saturday) *No postponement in case of inclement weather [Location]Akagawa Riverside, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture [Fees]Paid spectator seats are available. [Access]There is a 30-minute walk from Tsuruoka Station on the Hetsuetsu Main Line. Please use public transportation as traffic regulations will be enforced and parking lots in the surrounding area will be full. [Organized by]Akagawa Fireworks Festival Executive Committee [Notes.]For more information, please visit the official website. 【Tripadvisor】Akagawa Fireworks Festival https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1023682-d10019651-Reviews-Akagawa_Fireworks-Tsuruoka_Yamagata_Prefecture_Tohoku.html

Video introduction of "Fireworks 2023 in Sakata," Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture This time, we would like to introduce a video titled "Sakata Fireworks Festival 2023 Grand Finale 8KHDR" produced by "Japan Explorers". Sakata Fireworks Festival is one of the largest fireworks festivals in Tohoku, with over 12,000 shots launched on the first Saturday of August every year in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. In the video, you can see the finale of "Fireworks in Sakata" in 2023. We hope you enjoy the images of the magnificent fireworks shot off to the tune of "Niji" by Masaki Suda and "Cheers to the Earth" by Takeshi Hageta. Highlights of Fireworks in Sakata Photo：Yamagata Prefecture, Sakata Fireworks Show The "Fireworks of Sakata" in Yamagata Prefecture is a fireworks show full of highlights. It is a large-scale fireworks display with approximately 1,000 shots, including collaboration fireworks by famous smoke stores, a large aerial Niagara, and the launching of a No. 10 ball. Taking advantage of the vast area of the Mogami River, fireworks are launched over an area of up to 2 kilometers in width, which is the widest in Japan. The width of the display is said to be the same as that of the Nagaoka Fireworks, one of Japan's three largest fireworks displays. The grand finale "Tensei" in 2023 will be a spectacular sight to behold. The final part of Sakata's fireworks display is the simultaneous launch of three two-shaku dama. When is "Fireworks in Sakata 2024"? What are the tickets for paid spectator seats? Information on the 2024 "Fireworks in Sakata" is as follows. Date and Time: Saturday, August 3, 2024, 19:30-20:30 Venue: Mogami River River Park, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture (between Ryouu Bridge on Route 7 and Dewa Bridge on Route 112) The areas open to free spectators are Mogamigawa Swan Park and the green area downstream from the Dewa Ohashi Bridge. Paid spectator seats include mass seats with a capacity of four clerks, family seats with a capacity of six clerks, paired chair seats, bank seats, wheelchair seats, etc., and will be available for sale via the Internet from June 1, 2024 at 10:00. Please check the official website for details. How can I get to the "Fireworks in Sakata" site? Here are the directions to the venue for the fireworks in Sakata. It is a 45-minute walk from Sakata Station on the JR Hetsu Honsen Line, but a free shuttle bus will be available from Sakata Station. 2024 service hours, bus types, and other details can be found on the official website where information will be released around July. If you are going by car, drive approximately 8 km from the Sakata IC of the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway toward downtown Sakata on Route 7. Sightseeing spots around "Fireworks in Sakata Photo：Yamai Soko, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture There are many sightseeing spots for you to enjoy around Sakata, Yamagata! One of the most popular spots is "Sankyo Soko" (山居倉庫); which is an area with historic rice storehouses that have been the filming location for several tv dramas and movies. There's also Japan first photography museum "Domon Ken Kinenkan" (土門拳記念館), and the filming location for the 2008 film "Departures," so consider enjoying some sightseeing before the fireworks show begins! Other popular spots include Iimoriyama Park (飯森山公園), Homma Museum (本間美術館), and the Oranda Senbei Factory (オランダせんべいFACTORY). A guidebook will help you find your way around all of the tourist spots in Sakata city! Summary of "Fireworks in Sakata Photo：Woman in a Yukata Sakata's Fireworks Festival is one of the most popular fireworks displays in Tohoku. If you are planning a trip to Yamagata Prefecture this summer, why not enjoy it in a relaxed atmosphere with paid spectator seats? Don't forget, they go on sale June 1. We invite you to experience with your own five senses the superb entertainment that will color the night sky with music, as shown in the video. 【Tripadvisor】Sakata Fireworks Show https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1023683-d10019650-Reviews-Sakata_Fireworks_Show-Sakata_Yamagata_Prefecture_Tohoku.html

Yonezawa Uesugi Festival" in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, Video Introduction The video we'll be introducing this time is "Demonstration of Real Matchlock Guns" (本物の火縄銃の発砲実演), which as it's title suggests, demonstrates the firing of matchlock guns. The matchlock is one of the firearms that was introduced to Japan during the age of civil wars (c. 1467 to 1615). The matchlock is a smoothbore muzzleloader. The ignition method is classified as a matchlock type due to firing mechanism. When fired, the fuse comes into contact with a black powder propellant, thus igniting it and causing the gun to fire. The history of guns in Japan begins with the matchlock gun invented in Europe in 1543 that first landed in Tanegashima of Kyushu's Kagoshima Prefecture. Because of this it was referred to as a Tanegashima Gun or just "Tanegashima." According to the "Teppoki" an Edo Period (1603 to 1868 AD) account of the history of guns in Japan, Sengoku military commander Tokitaka Tanegashima adopted matchlock guns immediately after seeing a demonstration of their power, and soon after, matchlock guns spread throughout the rest of Japan. After its introduction, the design was improved upon, becoming a flash type matchlock using a spring as a trigger to improve accuracy. The History and Characteristics of the Matchlock Photo：A matchlock ashigaru squad The firearm before the matchlock was a touch-hole typethat was manually ignited by touching a flame to the ignition port, but a serpentine lock type that was operated with an S-shaped metal fitting was devised. In addition to that, a stock was added, and a matchlock gun was completed. The match lock system that was invented after that improved upon its range and power, and transformed it into a flint lock system that ignites by striking a flint rock. Comparing a museum matchlock with modern rifles, one of the things that stands out the most is the shape around the grip, which is very different. Therefore, it is said that the firing method was to shoot with the elbow stretched out instead of firing with the butt of the gun in one's shoulder. Oda Nobunaga, who held influence over the entire country during the Azuchi-Momoyama era, used the matchlock on the battlefield, and defeated the Takeda army at the famous battle of battle of Nagashino. The firing speed, which is a weak point of the matchlock gun, was made practical by forming teams of firing squads which led to Nobunaga's victory. During the Edo period, the shogunate restricted the possession of matchlock guns. Technology was stagnant due the national isolation policy that had been implemented by Japan's government, and new guns weren't introduced until the end of the Edo period at which point matchlock guns had become obsolete. Types of Matchlocks Photo：A matchlock In Japan, matchlock guns are categorized according to the weight of the ball they use, the place of production, and the school. Depending on the weight of the bullet, a matchlock is placed in either the small cylinder, medium cylinder, large cylinder, or large gun category. The production areas include Kunitomo Tsutsu, Sakai Tsutsu, Hino Tsutsu, Tosa Tsutsu, Satsuma Tsutsu, and more. Replicas made by safe gun makers are used in marksman competitions. Even in many Western countries, Japanese-style matchlock guns are used in quite a few tournaments. They are also sold to individuals, but they usually do not disclose prices and require you to contact them regarding any inquiries. In addition, even if you do not compete in competitions, you will need to register possession of one because it is subject to the regulations regarding possession of guns and swords. A Firing Demonstration at the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival Source :YouTube screenshot The Yonezawa Uesugi Festival held in Yamagata Prefecture in Japan's Tohoku region is one of the events where a matchlock demonstration is performed. The Yonezawa Uesugi Festival is a historic festival that has been held since 1965, and it is an annual festival held at the Uesugi Shrine, which enshrines the Uesugi family's ancestor, Uesugi Kenshin, as well as at Matsugasaki Shrine that enshrines Uesugi Yozan, Uesugi Kagekatsu, and Naoe Kanetsugu. On the final day of this event, you will be able to see a matchlock gun demonstration performed by 700 performers wearing armor, divided into the Uesugi and Takeda armies, and imitating the battle of Kawanakajima. A standing performer fires from 0:43 in the video, followed by crouching performers from 0:48, and finally from 0:56 we see a performer firing from the prone position. Summary of the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival Source :YouTube screenshot In this article we introduced the history and evolution of the matchlock gun. Did you like it? In the video, you can see a rare demonstration of the powerful matchlocks, so if you still haven't checked it out yet, we recommend giving it a watch! If you're interested in this kind of Japanese history, consider a trip to see the Yonezawa Uesugi Festival!