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Nagaoka Hanabi Glossary – Key Terms for the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
Welcome to the Nagaoka Hanabi Glossary – your guide to the key terms, traditions, and must-know phrases of the Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks Show.
Whether you are a first-time visitor or a long-time fan, this glossary will help you understand the unique language and culture of Nagaoka Hanabi.
From spectacular displays like the Shō-Sanjakudama and Phoenix to traditions deeply rooted in local history, each term is explained clearly so you can enjoy the festival to the fullest.
Click through each term to explore related articles, photos, and insider tips – and check back for updates as the festival approaches!
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- Chosei Bridge（長生橋）
An iconic steel truss bridge spanning the Shinano River in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, it has long been cherished as a local landmark symbolizing postwar recovery. During the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, it serves as one of the main installation points for the “Niagara Falls” fireworks display. (Completed in 1937)
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- HANABI（花火）
In Japanese, HANABI means “fireworks,” written with two characters: 花 (hana, flower) and 火 (hi, fire). It literally translates to “fire flowers,” describing the beauty of fireworks blooming in the night sky.
Discover HANABI (Fireworks)
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- Niagara Falls
A 650 m curtain of cascading sparks set off from Chōsei and Ōteō Bridges, resembling the real Niagara Falls. A signature display of the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival since 1953.
Discover the Niagara Falls - Senrin (千輪)
Senrin, meaning “thousand rings” in Japanese, is a traditional firework shell that bursts into dozens or even hundreds of smaller colored stars. - Shaku-dama (尺玉)
A spherical firework shell with a diameter of about 30 centimeters (roughly 1 foot). Known for its large, impressive bloom in the sky, it’s a common highlight at Japanese fireworks festivals. - Sho-Sanjaku-dama (正三尺玉)
The Sho-Sanjaku-dama is Nagaoka’s most iconic firework — a three-foot shell weighing 300 kg, bursting 650 meters wide in the night sky.
Discover the Sho-Sanjaku-dama - Shiragiku （白菊）
A pure white chrysanthemum firework, imbued with prayers for remembrance, recovery, and peace.
Discover the Shiraguki
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- Viewing Seats
All official viewing areas for the Nagaoka Fireworks require advance-purchase tickets. There are no tickets sold on the day of the event, so be sure to book ahead.
