Fewer fireworks events in Japan next summer due to Olympics

In 2015, the festival drew some 720,000 people and produced an economic impact of about 7.4 billion yen ($70.3 million). Romi Takahashi, secretary general of the Tokyo Yakatabune Association to which over 30 cruise boat operators belong, said the August festival was a major event in their peak season.

Screw the Olympics, the (fireworks) show must go on!

Too bad for the visitors who were looking forward to seeing the fireworks, isn’t it? I have my suspicions that’s it more about saving money than a lack of security staff.

4 or 5 fewer fireworks events isn’t really a lot. Cities outside of the Olympic circus area will probably continue as normal. Maybe it will allow more of the locals to go explore their own backyards.

I have my suspicions that’s it more about saving money than a lack of security staff.

Did you read the article? It's not about "saving money", they are LOSING money because of not holding it!

In 2015, the festival drew some 720,000 people and produced an economic impact of about 7.4 billion yen ($70.3 million). Romi Takahashi, secretary general of the Tokyo Yakatabune Association to which over 30 cruise boat operators belong, said the August festival was a major event in their peak season.

This is meiwaku in the classic sense of the term. What other indignities on Tokyo's populace is the government planning next year?

Is it me or the Tokyo Olympic Stadium is missing the cauldron?

I am not seeing it.

@Samit Basu

There's certainly been a lot of toil and trouble in the construction process.

Yubaru,

It maybe a case of penny wise pound foolish.

I share the feeling with Hustle.

The more I read about countries' lead ups to hosting a Games, the more relieved that my home state of Massachusetts told the Olympics to go pound sand when we were awarded the national bid for 2024.

Great......

So the Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai will take place....

When it may still be tsuyu....

All for the Olympics....

Screw the Olympics and the rich & elites it benefits!!

How about thinking about the average citizen?!

But, what do know.....

Well, isn't that great?

And so it begins. People of Tokyo, behold the way it's going to be from here on in.

"You know that big party we said was going to fix the economy? Well, we've got no money left now, and the sponsors have taken their tax-free hamper of your cash out of the country, so if you could just pretend this massive recession was inevitable, that'd be great. No fireworks, no pensions, no nowt. Oh, by the way, we're going to have to increase the consumption tax to 25% , so we regret any inconvenience."

Yeah, sorry... no pity here. Can't have it all, as much as some people WANT to have it all.

zones2seurf, the sumida fireworks has been completely rained out more than a couple of times; regardless of the rainy season timing. And some rainy seasons have been sunnier than the rest of summer. The Sanja matsuri is typically in the middle of rainy season yet it is almost always good weather.

However shifting all of the fun stuff around the olympics, when most people in Tokyo didnt even get any tickets is a bummer. Moreso that i bet some of the tourists would have loved to see some amazing fireworks displays while here

How are they going to "enjoy fewer?" It sounds like less enjoyment.

zones2seurf, the sumida fireworks has been completely rained out more than a couple of times; regardless of the rainy season timing. And some rainy seasons have been sunnier than the rest of summer. The Sanja matsuri is typically in the middle of rainy season yet it is almost always good weather.

@afanofijapan, I know. Fully aware.

My point is this..... why is the 2020 Olympics disturbing centuries of tradition???

The Olympics???

Who benefits from that????

The poor from Japan???

I think not....

Nothing to do with the Olympics, and I bet its different for big cities, but I bet my inaka town loses money with its fireworks display. The national taxpayer will be paying for it in the form of some tourism grant, so its viewed as free money and no-one cares. From going many times, it is obvious that it's mostly locals there spending very little money. I bet someone in the town hall cooks the books to create an economic benefit from it.

Who benefits from that????

The poor from Japan???

I think not....

Probably not going to be the same effect this time, but the 1964 olympics had a massive impact on both rich and poor. Well, at least thats according to some of the TV programs i watched. The obvious ones being the bullet trains, but also shutoko which was approved to ease traffic congestion. And prior to the olympics, it seems that Japan was not the clean and trash-less society you see today - they showed videos of trains littered with used bento boxes, rubbish through the streets and just generally a filthy society. But before the olympics they started ad campaigns, and improved trash collection, and it was a huge success. According to the show i watched it turned Japan into the clean and respectful society tourists love today

Seems legit

Shouldn't they hold more so crowds can spread over more days.

Whatever the occasion, Olympics or otherwise, fireworks are close to history. Drone displays are the future. Don't invest in (vehicles/funds that invest in...) fireworks. Prudential municipalities will be investing in drone technologies which can be re-used, and reprogrammed, many times rather than sending taxpayer money up in smoke.

I do like firework displays, especially Japanese city spectaculars, but 30 minutes of gunpowder display is wasteful.

@afanofjapan,

Probably not going to be the same effect this time, but the 1964 olympics had a massive impact on both rich and poor.

Oh, absolutely! My parents and older siblings were in Japan at the time (I was still out in the cosmos waiting to be born) and I know of the monumental impact the '64 Olympics had on Japan through what they told me, in addition to everything I have learned over the years. The same could be said of the '88 Seoul Olympics, although probably to a lesser degree.

Which is one of the reasons why there are so many older politicians, etc. that wanted Japan to host another Olympics. Because of the nostalgia they have for that period of time, when Japan was on its ascent, and the wind was at its back.

But that was then, this is now. There is very little that is being done in preparation for the 2020 Olympics that will benefit the ordinary person, even those in Tokyo. Conversely, it seems that it will involve major inconveniences.

One other thing. The '64 Olympics were held in mid-to-late October, the absolutely PERFECT time to have the Summer Olympics if they are going to be in Tokyo. As opposed to August, which is the absolutely WORST time.