In addition, we will provide a detailed explanation of the history and types of fireworks so that you can enjoy them even more. If you are thinking of going to a fireworks festival, be sure to check it out!
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Typical types of fireworks
From here, we will explain the different types of fireworks. Speaking of fireworks, there are many different types, both large and small, such as the launch fireworks that are enjoyed at fireworks festivals and hand-held fireworks. Here, we will explain the characteristics of launch fireworks. There are many types, such as those decorated with flowers and those with unique shapes such as hearts, but the following three types are the most common.
- Breaking Fireworks
- Half-cut fireworks
- Pokamono Fireworks
Breaking Fireworks
"Warimono" refers to fireworks that use gunpowder to shoot stars (the gunpowder that produces the light, color, and smoke) in all directions, and is the most common shape that comes to mind when you think of fireworks. There are several types of warimono, including "chrysanthemum," "peony," "coconut," and "katamono," and they have the following characteristics:
<Characteristics of Warimono Fireworks>
| Types of cutlery | Features |
| chrysanthemum | The star opens out from the center of the ball, leaving a charcoal-colored tail. The "henkagiku" (changing chrysanthemum) with its tip changing into two colors is also commonly used. |
| peony | Colored light appears right from the beginning without any tail. |
| Crown chrysanthemum | The stars are wide open and hang down with a trailing tail. The origin of the name is the hairstyle of young girls called "kamuro" (bald). |
| Coconut | It produces thick golden petals that resemble palm leaves. |
| Core included | A type with a core inside the circle |
| Molded object | They open flat or three-dimensionally and come in a variety of shapes, including hearts, butterflies, and Saturn. |
The relatively large, large-flowered fireworks mentioned above are called "warimono." There are also fireworks that combine other types of fireworks with "warimono," such as "ukimoyo" and "afterglow."
Half-cut fireworks
"Hanwarimono" is a type of firework in which many small flowers bloom at once after the firework ball explodes in the darkness of the sky, and is also sometimes called "Senrin." There are several types of Hanwarimono, such as "Senrin Kiku" and "Kowari," and they have the following characteristics.
<Characteristics of half-cut fireworks>
| Types of halves | Features |
| Thousand Chrysanthemums (Colored Thousand Chrysanthemums, Garden of Flowers) | There are many small balls inside a large ball. Many flowers bloom at the same time. |
| Small division | Small lights hung from parachutes are cast at different times. |
Hanwarimono are a type of firework that consists of many small balls. Since you can see many small fireworks at once, they have a different charm to the bolder hanwarimono fireworks, and they are an essential part of any fireworks display.
Pokamono Fireworks
"Pokamono fireworks" are a type of fireworks in which the ball splits into two in the sky and releases the parts like a paper lantern. There are various types of pokamono fireworks, such as "Yanagi" (willow), "Hachi" (bee), and "Hana-thunder" (flower lightning), and they have the following characteristics:
<Characteristics of Pokamono Fireworks>
| Types of Pokamono Fireworks | Features |
| willow | The stars form a cluster and then hang down, leaving a trailing tail. Among them, the ones that hang down like thin lines are sometimes called "thin willows" or "thread willows." |
| bee | They spin irregularly while making noise. Among them, those with many intersecting stars are called "split cannons." |
| Flower lightning | The fireworks explode like white flowers, making sounds. Among the fireworks, the "Hanagoho" produces only one sound, while the "Hanabanrai" produces multiple sounds at once. |
Fireworks like these, which are distinctive not only in color but also in sound and movement, are classified as Pokamono fireworks.
Explaining the mechanism behind fireworks
Now that we know about the classification of fireworks, let's take a closer look at their structure and mechanisms.
Structure of a firework ball
While fireworks overseas are cylindrical, Japanese fireworks are generally spherical. Spherical fireworks have the advantage that they look beautiful from any angle when they explode. They are also more resistant to external forces and less likely to break.
Figure: Structure of a firework ball
The structure of the firework ball varies slightly depending on the type, but in the case of the typical "double core" type, the firework is made by placing stars in the wariyaku (※) and attaching a fuse. The color of the firework is determined by the placement of the stars, so arranging them is the most time-consuming part of making fireworks.
The firework ball is covered in paper that wraps the gunpowder, and at the opposite end of the fuse there is a handle called a crown for hanging the firework ball.
Firework balls come in sizes ranging from No. 2 to No. 40, and the larger the ball, the bigger the firework and the higher it must be launched.
*Wariyaku: Powdered gunpowder sprinkled on rice husks. Its role is to explode the fireworks and ignite and release the stars.
How fireworks work
When a firework ball is launched into the sky using a launch tube and then exploded, it becomes a skyrocket firework. There are two main ways to launch a firework, each with their own characteristics:
<Figure>How a fireworks display works
| Launch Method | Features |
| Single launch | Put the explosives and fireworks into a single launch tube. Ignite them with a fuse, quick-ignition wire, electricity, or fire, and launch them one by one. |
| Starmine (rapid fire) | Many balls can be launched with one ignition. There are two types of ignition: electric ignition, in which an electric signal is sent from an electric igniter to ignite the ignition tool and ignite the launching powder, and manual ignition, in which all the fuses connected to the tube are ignited when the quick ignition wire is ignited. |
Nowadays, with an emphasis on safety and presentation, the mainstream fireworks displays use electricity or a fuse to ignite the fireworks.
Travel to see unique fireworks displays around the country
You'll have more fun watching fireworks at a festival if you understand their structure and how they work, rather than just casually watching the fireworks.
In addition to the fireworks festivals introduced in this article, there are many other fascinating fireworks festivals all over Japan. Each festival has its own unique concept and performances, so why not make a trip to see them?
Supervised by: Japan Pyrotechnics Association
Originally posted: June 15, 2022
*Some content was updated on July 19, 2024.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
