Fireworks are an important part of having fun during Japan's hot and humid summers. Huge firework festivals and competitions take place throughout August, people dress up in Yukatas – a kind of casual, seasonal kimono – and bring snacks and drinks to enjoy the show. For children, sets of small handheld sparklers and fountains are shared among friends (in the company of at least one adult and a bucket full of water – safety first) and small gatherings at the local park or gardens are eagerly looked forward to across the season.
The quality of most of these toy-fireworks, as they are known, is usually rather poor – sparklers only last a few seconds or simply refuse to light up. Thus, Yu Yamada of the creative agency Method Inc teamed up with esteemed fireworks company Yamagata Co Ltd to produce a premium line of handheld illuminations.
The collaboration – this year celebrating its fifth anniversary – has resulted in colourful and long-lasting versions of the classic sparklers and fountains, with a few surprises thrown in. The simple semi-transparent packaging and the choice of select outlets that carry the products (design shops, fancy bookstores, etc.) sets the selection further apart from the cheap varieties sold in convenience stores throughout the country. What better way to enjoy the summer with friends? – and perhaps their kids too.
Available in a range of colours, the fireworks are long-lasting versions of the classic sparklers and fountains – with a few surprises thrown in
Fireworks are an important part of Japanese summer culture, where a host of firework festivals and competitions take place throughout August
Wrapped in simple semi-transparent packaging, the fireworks are set apart from cheap varieties sold in convenience stores as they are only available in select outlets (from design shops to fancy bookstores)
-
After the floods, Valencia’s design community unitesValencia's design community launches ‘Auction for Action’ and 'Interioristas en Acción' (IED), initiatives to raise money for those effected by the floods in Spain
-
In Helsinki, Pauline Curnier Jardin has created the grotesque amusement park of her dreamsFrench artist Pauline Curnier Jardin celebrates otherness at Kiasma, Helsinki’s Museum of Contemporary Art
-
A celestial New York exhibition showcases Roman and Williams’ mastery of lightingLauded design studio Roman and Williams is exhibiting 100 variations of its lighting ‘family tree’ inside a historic Tribeca space
-
This new rug release from Floor Story is causing a cosmic eclipseKangan Arora and Floor Story have designed ten otherworldly illusions of form and tone – the ‘Cosmic Check’ and ‘Falling Shadows’ rug collections
-
Scandinavian design meets Japanese heritage in OEO Studio’s Tokyo apartmentOEO Studio has collaborated with Japanese property developer ReBita on a luxury new apartment at Tokyo’s Opus Arisugawa Terrace & Residence
-
Nendo and Georg Jensen create silver vases inspired by natureJapanese design studio Nendo and Danish silversmith Georg Jensen create a set of three silver vases that combine organic forms and minimalist aesthetics
-
Niwaki is a new outlet for Japan’s most innovative toolsNew London store Niwaki sells exquisitely crafted Japanese gardening tools and workwear
-
André Fu’s new furniture is inspired by Japanese gardensAndré Fu Living’s Art Deco Garden is a collection of furniture, objects, wallcoverings and homeware inspired by Zen gardens and Art Deco
-
Japanese minimalism meets Scandinavian design in Karimoku Case StudyThe Azabu Residence by Keiji Ashizawa and Norm Architects’ Frederik Alexander Werner is part of the Karimoku Case Study project, and features a sombre material palette and restrained colour scheme for a peaceful family interior
-
Snøhetta designs experimental culinary space in TokyoSnøhetta co-founder Craig Dykers discusses the architecture of Burnside – a Tokyo event space for art and design outfit En One and the Bronx chef collective Ghetto Gastro
-
Japan as seen through the lens of Marcio KoganBrazilian architect Marcio Kogan recalls his Christmas tradition of traveling to Japan and how that inspired a new collection of seating for Minotti, referencing the original 1960s design of hotel Okura by Yoshiro Taniguchi
