[Hidden Wonders of Japan] 10,000 Fireworks Illuminate World Heritage Site

The Kumano Great Fireworks Festival took place on August 29 at Shichiri Mihama Beach in Kumano City, Mie Prefecture. This beach is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.

Approximately 10,000 fireworks illuminated the night sky, marking the festival's spectacular return after a four-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. The event was also postponed twice from its original date of August 17, mainly due to the impact of Typhoon Lan.

Massive Displays

The festival's origins are said to date back over 300 years. Local residents have used fireworks to honor the spirits of the deceased ever since.

One of the most remarkable displays at the festival was Kaijojibaku ("explosion at sea"), where firework shells of the "number 3" category were detonated from rafts. These shells, weighing approximately 250 kilograms (551 lb), exploded at a height of around 120 meters (394 ft) with a burst diameter of 100 meters (328 ft). The grand finale was a fan-like fireworks display that radiated from the famous Onigajo rock formation.

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(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: The Sankei Shimbun