Fireworks blooming beautifully across the summer night sky are one of the quintessential sights of the season in Japan. For many of us, watching them light up the sky is a moment that makes the arrival of summer feel real. But behind their dazzling beauty lie challenges that are often overlooked, from the preservation of disappearing traditions to concerns related to health and the environment.
In this article, we explore some of the environmental and health challenges associated with fireworks, as well as sustainable solutions being developed in Japan and around the world.
What We Should Know About Fireworks Today
Fireworks are an integral part of summer in Japan. While they captivate audiences with their beautiful displays of light, they also raise concerns that have received less attention in the past, including noise and environmental impacts.
・The Problem of Noise Stress
The American Academy of Audiology notes that the sound of fireworks can reach 150–175 dB at close range for a brief period of time (Source: American Academy of Audiology). While these numbers can be difficult to put into perspective, 175 dB is an extremely high sound pressure level, approaching the approximately 180 dB associated with a rocket launch.
In the Netherlands, a survey of approximately 2,000 Dutch people aged 20–75 found that 6% of adults who went to watch fireworks reported experiencing some form of hearing-related problem, including tinnitus, hearing loss, a feeling of blocked ears, or distorted sound (Source: VeiligheidNL).
The stress caused by fireworks noise can also affect animals and pets, which may be particularly vulnerable to sudden, loud sounds. In response to these concerns, the Netherlands has also begun moving toward a ban on the sale of consumer fireworks to the general public from 2026 (Source: AnimaNaturalis).
・The Hidden Plastic Problem Left Behind After the Fun
When summer arrives, stores are often filled with variety packs containing an assortment of small fireworks. Once the fun is over, sorting the various pieces of packaging can become an unwelcome chore.
Many toy fireworks currently sold in Japan are packaged extensively in plastic. Because this packaging can be difficult to separate for recycling, it may end up being disposed of as mixed waste, contributing to the plastic waste problem. Discarded packaging and fireworks can also be left behind at beaches and in parks, creating an additional burden on the environment.
In response, major Japanese fireworks manufacturers and other companies have begun developing alternatives, including “all-paper packaging,” as part of efforts to reduce the use of plastic.
Creating the Night Skies of Tomorrow with Gentler Choices
The fact that fireworks have their challenges does not mean that we should simply stop enjoying a tradition that has been cherished for generations. So what can we do to pass this culture on to future generations?
・Fireworks Made with Eggshells
Founded in 1926, Inoue Toy Fireworks Co., Ltd. in Shizuoka Prefecture has developed “tamaRe:,” a handheld firework made using upcycled eggshells.
The eggshells are collected from local sushi restaurants and supermarkets. With the aim of giving discarded resources a new value, the company repeatedly tested different formulations before creating “tamaRe:,” a handheld firework incorporating eggshells.
But “tamaRe:” is not only about using recycled materials. Its light and sound effects have also been carefully designed. Combining eggshells with titanium creates fireworks with an orange glow and a distinctive crackling sound, while combining them with aluminum produces a sparkling effect reminiscent of a shooting star.
・Fireworks Made with Thoughtfully Selected Natural Materials
The Tsutsui Tokimasa Toy Fireworks Manufacturing workshop in Fukuoka Prefecture is one of the few remaining manufacturers in Japan preserving the tradition of domestically made senko hanabi, a traditional type of Japanese handheld sparkler.
Among its products is “Hana Hitohira,” a senko hanabi made entirely by hand. The fireworks are crafted using carefully selected materials, including pine soot made from the roots of pine trees from Miyazaki Prefecture that have been aged for more than 30 years, as well as handmade washi paper from Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture.
These traditional materials help create delicate fireworks whose appearance changes as they burn.
・Smoke-Free Light Shows Powered by the Latest Technology: Drone Shows
Against the backdrop of concerns about the environmental impact and safety of fireworks, new forms of nighttime entertainment are emerging around the world, either as alternatives to conventional fireworks or in combination with them.
One example is drone shows, in which thousands of drones are used to create illuminated displays across the night sky.
Because drone shows do not use gunpowder, they do not produce the smoke or combustion-related particles associated with fireworks. They are also generally quieter than fireworks, which may help reduce noise. In addition, drones can be recharged and used repeatedly, making the technology an area of growing interest from a sustainability perspective.
・Projection Mapping
As traditional summer festivals and fireworks displays were repeatedly canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan also saw new forms of light-based entertainment emerge as alternatives.
The “Enshu Fukuroi Fireworks” festival in Shizuoka Prefecture was canceled for three consecutive years from 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. In April 2023, students from the Computer Club at Fukuroi High School planned and produced a projection mapping event, using the main hall of Hattasan Soneiji Temple as a screen and taking “The Four Seasons of Fukuroi” as its theme.
Combining light and sound, the event was held as a local alternative to a fireworks festival and attracted attention as an initiative by high school students to revitalize their community (Source: SBS NEWS).
・YOKOHAMA GO GREEN
As reducing the environmental impact of fireworks events becomes an increasingly important issue, Yokohama City’s decarbonization initiative, “YOKOHAMA GO GREEN,” offers another way to reduce CO₂ emissions while continuing to enjoy local festivals and events.
At a fireworks festival held in Kanazawa Ward in 2025, a “Waste Separation Challenge” was introduced. The waste collection stations used a combination of illustrations and colors to make sorting easier to understand.
As a result, the accuracy of waste separation improved. During the daytime, the separation rate for burnable waste reached 85%, 19 percentage points higher than at regular collection stations. The separation rate for plastic waste was 58%, 30 percentage points higher than at regular stations.
When the resulting increase in correctly separated recyclable waste was converted into CO₂ emissions, it corresponded to an estimated 37% reduction (Source: YOKOHAMA GO GREEN).
In Conclusion
Fireworks are a beloved symbol of summer, but they also come with a range of environmental concerns, including air pollution, noise, impacts on wildlife and pets, and waste generation.
So what can we do as individuals to enjoy fireworks more responsibly in the summers to come?
One of the simplest things we can do is to be mindful of the people and animals around us when enjoying fireworks and keep an appropriate distance from others. Paying a little more attention to waste separation at event venues is another small but meaningful action.
We can also choose sustainable handheld fireworks made by giving eggshells a new life, or turn our attention to carefully crafted “gentler fireworks” made by artisans who value quality over quantity.
This summer, why not spend an evening with the people you care about, taking a moment to appreciate the gentle glow of a small firework in your hands? It could be a simple way to enjoy a warmer, more thoughtful summer.
