Hanabi-taikai constitute a typical summer scene. They originated in the Edo Period (1603-1867) with the exhibition of fireworks held competitively between Tamaya and Kagiya, which were firework factories. In summer, fireworks displays occur throughout Japan. Because Japanese summers are hot and humid, these are appropriately lively gatherings for amusement on nights when one is unable to sleep. Japanese people enjoy viewing fireworks in “yukata”, a very casual type of cotton kimono, while eating snacks and drinking.
