Japan fireworks event honors Kumamoto quake victims with white chrysanthemums
OGORI, Fukuoka -- A fireworks display honoring victims of the recent Kumamoto earthquake lit up the night sky in this southwestern Japan city on Aug.
Ogori, in Fukuoka Prefecture, witnessed a captivating fireworks display on August 8 to honor victims of the recent Kumamoto earthquake. Organizers of the Yume HANABI 2026 (Dream Fireworks 2026) festival, run by Junior Chamber International Mii, launched about 8,000 fireworks over the Homan River banks. The event coincided with a countdown marking 8 p.m. on August 8, 2026, a date locally celebrated for its sequence of eights.
Before the countdown, five fireworks in the shape of white chrysanthemums, a symbol of memorial tributes in Japan, were launched as a solemn salute to the earthquake victims. Despite the cancellation of the Chikugo River Fireworks Festival in Kurume due to a shortage of security personnel, the Yume HANABI organizers proceeded with the event after confirming adequate security measures could be maintained.
The festival's theme, "Toward a Future We Cherish," resonated with the community's need for encouragement amidst the ongoing disaster. The crowd, estimated to be larger than the typical 50,000 to 60,000 attendees, gathered to support the affected regions.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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