How Japanese Fireworks are Made & Launched ★ ONLY in JAPAN

Publicado 2022-01-02
Japan makes some of the world's best fireworks including record breaking giant sized shells like the Yonshakudama! We'll head to a prestigious fireworks factory in Akita to see how they're made.
The process includes 1) Milling 2) Granulation 3) Loading 4) Pasting
The secrets of the trade are passed down from one generation to the next, family businesses that have been producing fireworks since the Meiji era. The larger the firework shell, the longer it takes to grow the stars or black pellets needed. They start as ceramic balls the size of a sesame seed and grow day by day, taking a month or more to make a Shakudama 3cm star.
The Shakudama is a 18.5kg / 19 lb beast that you'll see launched at festivals outside Tokyo and urban areas. They get larger than that! The ni-shakudama, san-shakudama and yon-shakudama will literally blow you away with it's 750m launch height and width.

00:00 Start
02:00 Giant Firework Sizes & Details
02:42 World's Largest Firework Shell, YONSHAKUDAMA
04:20 Fireworks Factory, How it's Made
08:48 Loading the Firework Shells
15:18 Setting up the Launch Site
19:47 Japanese Fireworks Culture & History
22:54 Fireworks Launch Event
27:05 Large Shell Fireworks Launch

★ Supported by the Japan HANABI Association 一般社団法人日本花火推進協力会
Thank you very much! URL: hanabi2020.jp/en/art/

★ The ONLY in JAPAN Animated Opening was created for John by D'ART Shtajio dartshtajio.com/​

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ONLY in JAPAN ® is a registered trademark - All rights reserved. John Daub has been a reporter for NHK World TV since 2008 and YouTube creator & producer of the ONLY in JAPAN ® series building a community of over 1.6M. Thanks for watching!
#onlyinjapan​ #fireworks #howitsmade

Todos los comentarios (21)
  • @HenryTravels92
    As a pyrotechnician from norway, i truly apritiate the shells from japan. We usually buy Chinese shells, but for special ocations/really expensive show's, we go for japanese, maltese or spanish shells. This is pure art, and the people putting the time and effort into each shell, is nothing less than an artist. It is truly amazing to see the difference between a japanese shell and a chinese mass produced one. Hopefully i will be able to travel to japan for a few festivals in the future! That is one for the bucketlist! Good video, love to see the production behind these shells!
  • @SilkyC
    I don't care what age you are, fireworks are always such a joy to see!! This was awesome John!!! Cheers to many more years of Only in Japan!
  • @leokimvideo
    Japan has the best fireworks. There is a old traditional method of firing shells using a red hot link of chain put into the bottom of the mortar. The bottom of the shells have only tissue paper around the lift charge and the shells are dropped in by hand as each shell is fired off by the hot link of chain. It's a method that's banned in Australia but is used traditionally in Japan where it's common for a display to be just single shells being fired to fully appreciate the beauty of the firework. Japanese also do excellent 'peanut shells' where say a 5" will also have a 4" shell using the same lifter. Great footage here of the making processes which is normally shrouded in secrecy.
  • @MadMarky
    24:45 is by far the most impressive piece of fireworks i've ever seen! Five different vibrant colors with a very even distribution, and if that wasn't enough the colors shift several times during expansion. I never knew something like this was even possible in just one shell. Awesome piece of craftsmanship!
  • Very nice video! One thing that wasn't mentioned is that the employees of the firework company touched a grounding plate before entering the drying room to prevent electrostatic discharges that might ignite the fireworks.
  • @paulshaw5119
    Years ago I went to Fujisawa for a Hanabi celebration & it was an amazing couple of hours of fireworks!! There was the biggest crowd of people I have ever seen in my life on the beach watching it !! Japan truly is the most AWESOME place to see fireworks!! SUGOI!!
  • From the building of the shells to the launch and explosion of beauty in the sky. 🎆 Fireworks powered by rice 🍚 It was great to re-live the show and the shell for Leo was amazing! Happy to have been one of the backers along with @Kerry Larsen. Thanks John! 👍🎆
  • I love Japanese craftsman… They are so precise and exact. They are so smooth and consistent. It truly is amazing and comforting.
  • @xxIONBOMBxx
    The one that you and your sons hand prints were on. That was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The small yet powerful beginning, the wide explosion of a beautiful burning red, that turns to falling embers that all explode together after a suspenseful fall from the sky. The intellect that goes into such a design, that man put his heart into your firework to make it as cinematic as possible. I can only respect that and appreciate his dedication to the craft. Japan has dominated fireworks with intellectual ability. I nearly cried at some of the rainbow colored patterns nearing the middle of that show. Just amazing.
  • @miiigoreng
    Looking at the amount of details and intricacies put into each shell, I realize why Japanese are contented watching just ONE.
  • I had no idea. That was the most beautiful and impressive fireworks display I've seen. I was impressed through the screen
  • @chrisicu4236
    Thanks for sharing this experience. I’ll never forget my first Japanese fireworks festival in August 1997 in Tokyo. It will always be a fond experience to me. And congratulations on your son. Best wishes to your entire family.
  • @osanaisamyth5591
    17:54 an event backed by an online community, that is crazy, congratulations Only in Japan fans !
  • @_DST0NE_
    I’ve always been fascinated by Japanese culture and tradition. They find beauty in everything and strive for excellence in even the smallest things. Definitely at the top of my bucket list and when I go I want to see these fireworks!!
  • @clifforddean232
    100% an artist, an architect, an engineer of a creative mind.
  • @sveagle
    Ich habe riesen Respekt vor dieser Habdwerkskunst, vielen Dank für die tollen Bilder.
  • @jayflow7949
    It’s things like this why I admire Japan so much they have kept their traditions of ultra high quality everything including Amazing People!!! Thanks for the video bro 💯🇳🇿🖤🤙
  • @mattiemathis9549
    I feel like I just watched a story being told through fireworks. Fabulous!!!
  • @Tairone1337
    When Japanese do soemtbjng, it’s done to perfection