Hanabi (fireworks) are a feature of summer in Japan. Whether it’s the shelves stocked with fireworks big and small to use at your next barbecue or one of the many firework festivals held during the hottest months, fireworks are a quintessential part of the Japanese summer. The literal translation of hanabi (花火) is flower fire from the characters 花 (flower) and 火 (fire). Although its Japanese name conjures up the image of a fantastic flower burning in the sky, the word is a useful starting point to explore fireworks’ historical and cultural significance in Japan. In this post, we’ll discuss the…