Toy firework packaging can look so innocent! They come disguised as pandas, monsters, umbrellas, colourful tropical fish, and many more. Cute! But be careful when you light the contents with your friends at your riverside BBQ – enjoy the packaging too much, and you might end up with a burnt hand… Today, PingMag shows you some nice toy firework designs for “Hanabi season” - as fireworks in August are a big Japanese tradition.
Written by Ryoko
Translated by Rie
There are about 700 kinds of different toy fireworks stuffed inside the small Marue fireworks shop in Asakusabashi, Tokyo. Every customer is fishing out individual pieces and stands in front of the rows, seemingly imagining how the actual firework would look in the sky. By the way, in Japan you can buy fireworks all year round and there is no age restriction, so even kids buy them freely.
“The package design should help people imagine enjoying the sparks and sounds when the fireworks are lit. Beautiful colours and interesting illustrations help them imagine,” says Mr. Ebisawa, owner of the Marue fireworks shop.
Rockets
Most of the “Rocket” packages show how the fireworks will look after you light them. For example, this “Flying Fish” gives out vigorous sparks with its package showing a swimming ‘flying fish.’ Below, the colourful balls on the impressive DYNAMITE60 package promise 60 dynamite fireworks!
Flashy designs! The DYNAMITE60.
“Kin’ito-yanagi” is the oldest type of rocket fireworks. The “Todoroki,” meaning ‘roar,’ is meant to express its dynamic power.
Although they were not really popular in the past, recently more round ball fireworks are produced. These are possible thanks to advanced technology, as Mr. Ebisawa explains. The spherical mould, for example, is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It is stuffed with carefully balanced explosives, and the resulting fireworks have a perfectly round shape when viewed from any angle! Our traditional fireworks have a rather simple design: just a oblong tube, called a ‘flat ball’ stuffed with explosives. When lit, these give you different types of fireworks such as a round shape or a long shape when seen from different angles. For this reason, fireworks that are perfectly round when they explode are a bit of a novelty.
Blowout Fireworks
“Blowout Fireworks” are ones that are lit and placed on the ground. Some of them produce sparks which are totally different from their package’s looks and you will have a little surprise then. For example, despite its cute packaging, this “Ice Cream” makes rather aggressive sounds. On the other hand, “The Monsters” will show you some very calm sparks.
Surely, you cannot imagine the beautiful sparks from these packages that look like Dracula and Frankenstein.
Spooky and colourful illustration of a skeleton…smoking a cigar!
Traditional Pyrotechnics
Most traditional pyrotechnics are made in China and you surely have seen some of their unique colours and illustrations. Once this “Tropical Fish” catches fire, it starts spinning around and turns into a red light when it stops. Others have exquisite creations such as a colourful lantern or a small bird cage when lit.
Pyrotechnics styled to look like a tropical fish.
A colourful illustration of a bird. The primary colours and the old-school font are nice!
“Coloured Smoke Ball” produces plumes of pink and green smoke.
“Rat Fireworks” spins around like a rat chasing its tail.
Handheld Fireworks
Among handheld fireworks, the colourfully packaged “Susuki (Japanese silver grass) Fireworks” were mainly used in the past. Nowadays, fireworks called ‘Sparklers’ are popular that send sparks flying like shooting stars. Sparklers? We call them ‘electric fireworks’ in Japan. You can find various kinds in a fireworks store, includes one with paper monsters at one end, or one resembling a “dango,” Japanese sweet dumpling, on a stick.
A totally scary monster umbrella…
…dumpling-shaped sparkler fireworks…
…fireworks in psychedelic colours!
When lit, a monster sticks out its tongue!
Senko Fireworks (Japanese Sparkler)
Before, we gave you a glimpse of some pretty colourful and noisy fireworks, so let’s finish with some quiet Japanese sparklers: First, their name “Senko fireworks” stems from ‘incense sticks’ meaning ’senko’ in Japanese. The original one is this one called “Subote Botan.” It bears its name from its straw handle, the Japanese ‘warasubo’ which is dialect for ‘warashibe’ meaning ’straw.’ Eventually colourful Japanese paper was used for the handle. Its simple beauty still attracts many Japanese up to today.
Have a look at the beauty of Senko fireworks!
We kindly thank the Marue fireworks shop in Asakusabashi for the cooperation. Enjoy fireworks with someone you love! And please be careful!
19 Comments
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花火を見たいぃぃぃぃぃぃ！！！
オン・ザ・ビーチだぜ！
Posted by: digs86 on August 23rd, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Yummy, it looks like candy!
Posted by: Flo on August 23rd, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Amazing!
Posted by: Balakumar Muthu on August 23rd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I forgot how i found your site, but it is great. THX Gotta check if they have such cute fireworks in China as well.
Big up
Posted by: Beijingduck on August 23rd, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Your site is extremely cool and useful. I like to look at the Japanese culture. Thanks a lot
Posted by: littleting on August 24th, 2007 at 1:39 am
The packages are so cool!
But the content is kinda dangerous haha
I love japanese design!
Posted by: Akai on August 24th, 2007 at 1:51 am
I had seen many versions of firworks in Anime, but to see actually the types that sold in Japan is facinating. And the karakasa one is so funny.
Posted by: glyph on August 24th, 2007 at 2:10 am
Love the Rat/Mouse and spooky Dracula/Frankenstein Fireworks! They look innocent but can be scary! Woot!
Posted by: Jo Jo StarBuckz on August 24th, 2007 at 4:24 am
Senko fireworks.. beautiful, but sad afterward.
Posted by: tokyoish on August 24th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Thank you for your site. I have found here much useful information.
Good site ! ;)
Posted by: OVGuillermo on August 25th, 2007 at 1:52 am
Its nice to check the cultural difference.
In India graphics is mostly influeced with Bollywood (Cinema).
Posted by: Paavani on August 26th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
this terrific information. the packaging is very appealing yet unfortunately not able to pass USA gov’t warning lable requirements. The dayglo sparklers & smoke really caught my eye. Nice deal that kiddies can partake as well. BRAVO HANABI!
Posted by: crackerman2 on August 31st, 2007 at 6:22 am
[...] In Malaysia, I can’t see this kind of sparklers is being sell and eventually my country bans fireworks… How i wish to play this senko hanabi! To learn more about beautiful senko hanabi, please visit Tokyo Under the Tracks and Pingmag. [...]
Posted by: Senko hanabi - beautiful Japanese sparkler | Jayhan Loves Design & Japan on September 5th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
hehe, not a lot of high explosives, here in my country the fireworks is like a bomb so loud and big. its good for kids
Posted by: TOM BRADY on February 6th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
好!
Posted by: 面壁洗心 on February 18th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
hello,to everybody, i’m an Italian fireworks lover. next to visit japan and tokyo please contact me
info@pirofireart.com
Posted by: sandro on February 23rd, 2008 at 4:46 am
vak jou ik vind jullie een varken
Posted by: Anonymous on December 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
THANKS VERY GOOD YOUR SİTE
Posted by: Bursa Evden Eve Nakliyat on May 25th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
The firework is the favorite toy for children,even for adults.
But in the market,its price seems more expensive a little.
Posted by: Replica Designer Handbags on July 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm