A Japanese Diwali: How it’s different from India

Among the many things travel teaches you is how things you take for granted back home don’t come easily to everyone else. A fine example of this is fireworks.

Back home in India, even if it’s not Diwali, it’s easy for anyone to go to a store or order fireworks online. And then, unless there is a specific ban at a certain place/time, you are free to light them up at weddings, birthdays or for no reason at all.

Not so in many countries. Certainly not in Japan, where a fireworks show conducted by the government is an occasion for hundreds of people to dress up and go witness.

It was funny how I got in touch with Junichi and Natsumi. My dive instructor at Yoron To, a tiny island south of Japan’s main islands, had got me in touch with her friend Junichi, when I told her I would be in Tokyo later in my trip. Junichi was going out with Natsumi and I met them both, and went for lunch together.

At lunch, they asked me if I had plans later that evening. When I said I did not, they invited me to a fireworks show a little out of town. I gladly agreed to go.

I took a train to my destination and walked to Natsumi’s home where they were dressing up for the occasion. Natsumi would wear the traditional kimono and Junichi, the yukata. The bow-like knot you make of the yukata belt, I found, is as complicated as wearing the Bengali dhoti. Junichi switched a video on YouTube and tried to do it. Seeing him struggling, I helped him a bit and finally got the knot somewhat right.

Before leaving, Natsumi shared with us some sweet snacks made by her grandmother. They tasted quite like the Bengali peethe to me. Very tasty!

It was starting to get dark and we left for the venue, which was a short walk away. We could see lots of other people dressed in traditional clothes heading that way like us. I was among the minority who were in regular clothes.

When we reached the venue, I found it a street that had been blocked to traffic for the event. It was like a big fair with several food trucks and temporary kiosks lined up. We bought ourselves some snacks and waited on the street for the fireworks to begin. 

Like everything else in Japan, the fireworks started right on time. Sharp at seven, a siren sounded somewhere and then these brilliant fireworks started lighting up the sky. They were of different colours and made somewhat different patterns in the sky. The spectators ooh-ed and aah-ed. 

But after several minutes I got a little bored. Also, the air began to get full of burnt bits from the fireworks and we had to cover our food.

The show went on for a full 45 minutes. But we didn’t wait till the end. We left around 7.30pm, took a few photographs and parted ways.

That’s as close Japan gets to Diwali.