• Men holding their handmade Tezutsu hanabi . AFP
    Men holding their handmade Tezutsu hanabi . AFP
  • Participants carrying a large fireworks cylinder before dedicating fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine as a part of a Shinto ritual, on the eve of the Toyohashi Gion festival, in Toyohashi, central Japan. AFP
    Participants carrying a large fireworks cylinder before dedicating fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine as a part of a Shinto ritual, on the eve of the Toyohashi Gion festival, in Toyohashi, central Japan. AFP
  • A man is splashed with a bucket of water as they rest before carrying a large cylinder of fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
    A man is splashed with a bucket of water as they rest before carrying a large cylinder of fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
  • A large fireworks cylinder is carried by a group of men before dedicating the fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
    A large fireworks cylinder is carried by a group of men before dedicating the fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
  • Handmade Tezutsu hanabi (handheld fireworks) are dedicated to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
    Handmade Tezutsu hanabi (handheld fireworks) are dedicated to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
  • A man fools around with a water bucket on his head as participants rest before carrying fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
    A man fools around with a water bucket on his head as participants rest before carrying fireworks to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
  • Men piling handmade Tezutsu hanabi which will be purified before being dedicated to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
    Men piling handmade Tezutsu hanabi which will be purified before being dedicated to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
  • A man hitting wood pieces together to create a rhythm as participants carry a large fireworks cylinder. AFP
    A man hitting wood pieces together to create a rhythm as participants carry a large fireworks cylinder. AFP
  • A participant holding his handmade Tezutsu hanabi dedicated to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
    A participant holding his handmade Tezutsu hanabi dedicated to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
  • Fireworks make their way to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
    Fireworks make their way to the Yoshida Shrine. AFP
  • A Tezutsu hanabi explodes. AFP
    A Tezutsu hanabi explodes. AFP
  • Sparks fly from one participant's Tezutsu hanabi. AFP
    Sparks fly from one participant's Tezutsu hanabi. AFP
  • A man drawing the word for water three times with fireworks. AFP
    A man drawing the word for water three times with fireworks. AFP
  • Three Tezutsu hanabi are set off. AFP
    Three Tezutsu hanabi are set off. AFP

World

Preparations under way for the Toyohashi Gion Festival in Japan

For over 350 years, this traditional ceremony has seen local residents making their own fireworks

The National

July 23, 2018

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