Nihonjin are crazy for hanabi.

Over the weekend some friends and I went to the most amazing firework display in Japan. Now... there is one thing you need to understand about hanabi (fireworks)... it is not just entertainment, it is ART. Towns from all over Japan compete for the most spectacular presentation of fireworks. This event is also a way for vendors to sell fireworks to other cities (Most towns have at least one firework display a year).

So... I attempted to be early to meet my friends... but who would have thought this thing was going to be so huge. The roads were at a dead stop at 2pm. Everyone was trying to get to Tsuchura. I eventually arrived 20 mins. late. Luckily, everone was nice enough to wait for me.
We all caravaned to Tsuchura and walked the other 1/2 mile or so to the site. I don't know who did it... but we had amazing seats. Well.. seats are a bit of a strech. We (about 35 total) had a plot of land on a recently sowed rice patty. Someone was nice enough to bring a tarp to lay on the field, and blankets to lay on the tarp. There were some stalks of rice plants sticking up at us... but after a few cocktails nobody really seemed to care.
It was the most fantastic fireworks display I have ever seen. 2 1/2 hours of wonderment.
An interesting note about japanese culture. They don't OOOHHHH and AAAHHHH like we do. If something is really spectacular they clap (no yelling or whooping). There were vendors selling everything from chocolate bananas to squid on a stick.... MMMMMMMM (just kidding).

Afterwards we all went back to Ami-machi for a night of Karaoke and lime-sours (kind of like a midori sour, but with more alcohol). I don't have ant pictures of us at the fireworks or of karaoke... I still need to get a new batery for my camera. If anyone has some pics.. please send them my way. To everone else out there (who is not in Japan, oh hell, even if you are in Japan)... I hope all is well with you and your lives are happy and complete. Try to drop me a line sometimes. Lots of love, JDW.