August 5, 2025
For the first time in about ten years,
I went to see the Chikugo River Fireworks Festival in Kurume City,
Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
I even took the day off work just for this event,
and had been looking forward to it for days!
This festival has a history of over 360 years,
dating back to 1650 (Keian 3) , and is one
of the largest in western Japan, with around
15,000 fireworks lighting up the sky.
The day before the festival, I nervously cheked
the weather on my iPhoneー
Rain was in the forecast for the entire week.
I was in shock…
But on the day itself, the sky showed no sign of rain!
It truly felt like the heavens were on my side.
I packed my camera bag with a
GoPro11, Insta360 ONE X2, and Canon EOS R50,
and set off by car toward Kurume.
Getting to the Venue
At 6 p.m. , I parked my car in a coin-operated
parking lot near Nishitetsu Kurume Station.
I planned to take the shuttle bus to the venue,
but was greeted by a long line stretching all
the way to the road.
I decided to walk instead.
One hour later, I finally arrived!
The venue was filled with people-couples in
yukata, groups of friends, families-everyone
ready for the big night.
While searching for a good spot, I found an
ideal place: flat concrete ground where I could
sit comfortably.
I set up the GoPro and R50 on tripods,
changing the R50 to the fireworks setting
I had researched beforehand.
I completely forgot to adjust the GoPro, and
had no time to use the X2 for capturing the
atmosphere.
The Fiest Fireworks
As the sky darkened-but still with a faint trace
of twilight-the show began.
＼ Papapapapa! ／
Like strings of tiny fireballs, the opening
fireworks burst into the evening sky, reminding
me of “kan-shaku dama” (small firecrackers)
with their quick, rhythmic pops.
It wasn’t a massive opening, but rather a
playful, teasing start, as if to say: “Here we go!”
I pressed the shutter on my R50, started
recording with the GoPro, and began snapping
shots with my iPhone for family and friends.
At one point, I noticed something special:
Through the iPhone screen, a giant firework
bloomed behind it, too big to fit in the frame.
It was a rare moment where I could enjoy
fireworks both through the lens and with my
own eyes at the same time.
Photo by iPhone16 Pro
In total, I took about 250 shots with the R50,
but only two turned out the way I had hoped.
I had expected more great shots, so it was a bit
of a disappointment.
Still, it reminded me that fireworks photography
is no easy feat for beginners.
Next year, I’ll be back-this time aiming for
100 perfect shots!
Next Post
Chikugo River Fireworks Festival 2025 – Photography Edition
Read this article in Japanese
⇩日本語版はこちら
