Hello, my name is Amanda, and I am the new Coordinator of International Relations for Nagareyama City Hall’s Nagareyama Honcho/Tone Unga Tourism Promotion Section, as of July 2023. I am originally from San Diego, California, which is known for its beaches and tacos. I hope to become a bridge that connects the cool sights and spots of Nagareyama to the rest of the world!

A Musical Show Coming Soon to Nagareyama’s Night Sky!

In the United States, there are two holidays out of the year where fireworks are set off all over the country. Those days are Independence Day and New Year’s Eve. The fireworks on Independence Day (informally known as the Fourth of July), are especially famous, where almost every major city sets off extravagant fireworks displays on this day. My hometown of San Diego is also well-known for their huge Fourth of July fireworks show that is set off along San Diego Bay, and every year the city becomes crowded with people who are there to celebrate. One of my favorite memories I have is going to watch these fireworks with my family. I remember wrapping up in a towel to warm up from the slightly chilly night time air, and watching the beautiful fireworks light up the night sky with my Mom and Dad.

Last year’s “Nagareyama Fireworks Festival” The Sky Musical, was the first time I ever watched a fireworks display in Japan. The fireworks were set off along the length of the Edogawa River, painting the night sky in a mesmerizing display of shapes and colors. The event took place in early October, which is a bit later than usual, since fireworks are often associated with summer in Japan. Having the Fireworks Festival in autumn however, in a way seemed like a lovely send off to summer. Shaped like chrysanthemums and peonies, the fireworks seemingly showed off the natural beauty of summer before the cold months officially start taking over.

With a name like “The Sky Musical,” it is befitting that music was involved. In keeping with its name, the fireworks display was just like a musical performance, where the fireworks were set off in synchronicity to popular J-Pop songs by artists like Kenshi Yonezu and Namie Amuro. When the first fireworks rang out into the night, I remember stopping in my tracks and looking up at the night sky in awe. The dancing of fireworks across the night sky, the thrilling explosions that shook my body to its core, and of course the music that added to the beautiful choreography, allowed for an almost surreal experience, where you could experience the fireworks using all five of your senses. I felt like a kid at a movie theater, seeing a movie on the silver screen for the first time, completely entranced by this beautiful performance that played out in the night skies of Nagareyama. Check out this year’s theatrical production of fireworks, coming to Nagareyama coming on October 5th!