2004 fireworks watching in Tokyo

One of the joyful summer events in Tokyo must be the fireworks.

First of all was the Sumida River fireworks convention carried out on July 31st.

Quite a lot congestion are expected to see from a boat, because it is carried out in the narrow Sumida River in the center of Tokyo, I would do it simply by watching from the veranda of my apartment house.
And the next one was Koto-ku fireworks convention on August 1st. Since it was carried out at Tokyo bay side of Arakawa river, this would be the good exercise to experience the fireworks watching from a boat.
I left the boat moorage place in New Nakagawa river at 6 o'clock in accordance with the launching start in 7:30. Entering into Arakawa while going through the waterway of Kasai coastal park and going after the houseboat, I tried to go to the place where many ships are gathered. The day was quite windy and there was the possibility that my boat could be poured and collide with other ships even if I strike the anchor in the place which was crowded. Thereupon, I stopped the boat in the place where it parted that a little opened.
While preparing the drink and food in haste it was the start of firework. Being shaken largely with quite a lot wave, although my boat was connected together with another boat of my friendŐs. The firework convention of Koto-ku was not such large for the scale with 3000 emission, I enjoyed watching it from a boat for the first time. I took several photographs with slow shutter and on a shaking boat, which was just enough to let you understand as the fireworks somehow.

Koto-ku Fireworks convention : Picture qualiy is not good but you may see some fireworks!.

Continuing to the next week, August 7 was the fireworks convention of the Edogawa River even with 14,000 emission. One of my boat colleague who is living close to the launching site proposed me to watch from the 9th floor of his apartment house instead of going there by boat, and I found it to be the best idea. Together with some fresh sashimi fish I bought at Tsukiji fish market in the picnic basket, I arrived at Shinozaki station by subway. I noticed already even the train was so congested as about the same as a rush hour, that the platform and the isle was completely full of people and it took long time to get out of the station to arrive at the friend home at last. I think that I could shoot the photograph better than before, because I was on the earth in this time anyway. We continued the party again after watching the fireworks until 11 o'clock because I knew that all the return trains must be of a large congestion.

Edogawa river Fireworks convention : Pictures are much better aren't they?



The 14th was the fireworks convention of the Bay of Tokyo. They launch the fireworks at the corner of the Tokyo bay and I saw it was the perfect chance to go near by a boat. Joining with another fleet at the moorage place at 5:30, passing through the waterway of a Kasai coastal park, we entered into the canal from Arakawa river following many houseboats and cruisers. It was a tough navigation because of the traffic jam in narrow waterway and boat was influenced by pulls wave or itŐs rebound, I needed skills to watch the wave and control the throttle promptly. We went through the canal at last and try to strike the anchor under the highway in front of launching site. But the police boat came and said "DonŐt park here and go away! ". Then we found the vacant place in the wood yard pond next to the canal. After anchoring and connecting with another boat, and as soon as taking out a table to prepare drinks and foods, it was the time of launching. The fireworks are famous with the size of big fireball and even the sound was so laud. Because it was the middle of a canal and there was no strong wave so that all the persons were able to fully enjoy the fireworks on the boat. Again we shifted the time as slowly to come back, in order not to be involved in jam.

Tokyo bay Fireworks convention : You may see some other boats as well.



Last year, my boat did not work due to repair. But this summer was so different that I could see fireworks even from own boat.

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