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Hello. As we finally head into the second half of July, the season of fireworks festivals that beautifully color the Japanese summer is arriving. There are many wonderful fireworks festivals in Japan, but the one I highly recommend foreign residents experience at least once is the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival held in Tokyo.

Japan's Oldest Fireworks Festival The origins of this festival date back to 1733, about 300 years ago during the Edo period. It originally began as a way to console the souls of those who died from famine and epidemics, and to pray for the eradication of plagues. Today, with the beautiful night view of the Tokyo Skytree in the background, about 20,000 colorful fireworks are launched, drawing over a million visitors annually and making it one of Japan's largest summer festivals.

The Wish of the 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune The 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, is a very famous historical figure in Japan—almost like a superstar of the Edo period. In modern times, he is widely loved across the country as the model for the popular TV drama Abarenbo Shogun.

During his time as Shogun, the country faced many hardships, and he worked to solve them through various policies. For one, there was a severe crop failure known as the Great Kyoho Famine. In addition, a deadly epidemic, similar to cholera, swept through the densely populated city of Edo, claiming many lives.

Thinking about these historical events, we can see some parallels with our modern world in 2026—such as the fear of infectious diseases and the physical and mental toll caused by the rising cost of living.

Calming negative emotions born from anxiety or the fear of war, and using the fireworks to light a positive fire in our hearts—in that sense, the fireworks festival late this month might be a wonderful opportunity. It might be unfamiliar for foreign residents, but wearing a Yukata (a casual summer kimono) while enjoying the festival would also be a fantastic experience.