Last week, a patient told me, “There’s a fireworks festival in Tamamura tonight!” — so I grabbed my daughter and headed out!
We went to the Tamamura roadside station (michi-no-eki), and wow, the crowds and cars were incredible!
There’s something about fireworks that just makes your heart race, isn’t there?
Here’s a little taste of the show — consider it my sharing the experience with you! (Ha!)
A Bit of Fireworks History
Fireworks festivals in Japan date back to the Edo period. They originally started as ceremonies to honor those who died from famine and plague, and as prayers to ward off disease and bring economic recovery.
Speaking of which — in Japan, people traditionally shout “Tamaya~!” when watching fireworks. Do you know why?
It turns out they were shouting the name of the firework maker! The famous firework houses “Tamaya” and “Kagiya” would compete, and the audience would cheer for their favorite by shouting their name.
I’d been shouting it all my life without knowing that!
And when I tried to get my daughter to join in? She had no idea what “Tamaya” meant. (Ha!) Modern kids…
It felt like the real start of summer. What a wonderful experience!
Before You Visit…
Fair warning: our English is a work in progress! (Ha!)
But thanks to the magic of translation apps, we communicate just fine with patients from around the world.
Your body speaks a universal language — and that’s the one we’re fluent in.
