Itabashi fireworks

August 4. Saturday.

It's hot. It's very hot.

TV reminding that there will be fireworks (花火 in Japanese) in Itabashi, Tokyo. I can't miss it this time. I head off to Narimasu station, around 16:30 and start to despair as I see the longest queue I've ever seen in Japan so far. And the Japanese do love queues. I am mad at myself. I knew I should have come earlier. From the station, I can see the multiple buses coming empty and leaving full. The line moves a little and I am a bit happy. But the sun is killing me. I reach for my backpack and drink from my water bottle, which contains only 600 ml. Dammit. Should I have bought some beer? It makes no sense being worried about not having enough water, but my thought rapidly changes to the one and a half hour that I will be looking at fireworks beside the river. Doesn't matter. The line moves a little bit more and I start to think that maybe I'll be there on time after all. I realize that I am not the only foreigner in the queue, I can see some other. But the most striking image, for a foreigner, is the many women wearing kimonos and some men wearing jinbei. Although the sun is making me reach for my water bottle more than I would like, the organization of the queue is just so Japanese, which means it is probably the best in the world: so thoughtful and organized. Staff people breaking the queue at points in order for other people to pass. People holding cartons with information about the queue. People being nice...

The queue actually turns to two at one point with one man announcing that those who want to go standing should go to the other queue. Of course, the buses will go full and not everyone will be going seated. I am told that the ride is only about 20 minutes so I decide to change queues and take on the "fast lane", or standing lane. After a few more minutes I am inside the bus, which quickly becomes a jam-packed bus. But no problem. What matters is that I am on the way to the fireworks site, and it's only 20 minutes. But it wasn't. The streets were also jam-packed, and the bus proceeded slowly, which added some 15 minutes more to the ride. But again, no sweat (pun intended).

We are dropped off at a place which I can finally see because in the bus I couldn't really look outside. Police are everywhere, easily identifiable, directing people to the Arakawa river, where the fireworks will take place. And a crowd of people, wearing shorts, kimono, jinbei, carrying food, drinks, and beer... So many people carrying beer and my water bottle is filled with water, and I have already drunk half of it. In spite of the huge crowd, like everywhere else, everything is very well organized and people easily see and hear instructions from the staff, which includes many police officers as well as other, probably from the city hall, which are also easily identified with their uniforms and lights and stuff.

When I finally reach the river banks, a huge crowd is already sitting on the shores. It seems more like there will be some music festival, and people are just drinking while waiting for the night to come. I see some stands selling food and drinks and I head off to one. I am encouraged by the price of the beer (some 400 yens), but I am quickly discouraged by another humongous queue. I live in Tokyo. I should already be used to this, but I'm not.

It is still day and I look for a spot to sit, which wasn't hard. Although there were many people sitting already, it was not hard to find a good spot. I start to feel the spirit of the fireworks, which I have no idea what it is since I never experienced such commitments to watch fireworks blow for 1 hour and a half. And I start making a list in my head for the next time.

Next time:

1 - It's not necessary to rush after all;
2 - Bring beer;
3 - Bring food;
4 - Bring a freaking mat to sit by the river shores.

I sit down anyway, on top of a grass with dirt. Put on again mosquito repellent and pray that I will not get bitten hardly as I usually am.

It rapidly turns night. People keep coming down to the river banks. The queue for the food and drink stands hasn't changed or maybe it has - still looks long, long... It's dark already. I look at my phone and realize it's 19:00. 2 minutes after the show begins. This can only mean that phone is 2 minutes in advance.

Finally, on the speakers, a woman announces that the fireworks are about to begin, but first, the mayor will give out a speech. After the speeches are over, it is time.

The 59th edition of Itabashi's fireworks is about to start. Enjoy.

Queues for the buses