Asahina Ryusei, a powerful rocket festival in the rural Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture is well known for its vast expanse of nature. The Ashina Ooryusei is a firework that is launched every two years in the rural town of Okabe. This tradition has been continued throughout history, and its brilliant scene is popular amongst the locals gathering 30,000 people in a town of 3000. It is also an intangible cultural asset of Shizuoka Prefecture.

The preparation of the “Ashina Ooryusei” starts more than a month before the actual event, and everything is handmade by the locals. It is a significant event in the rural town of “Okabe” known for its “Gyokuro” green tea and only takes place once every two years. More than 30,000 people gather to watch this launch in a town of just 3,000 people. It is believed that in the Middle Ages, they used this method to signal danger. The firework is launched from a turret 20m high. When ascending, the white smoke is similar to a dragon when it ascends to heaven, hence the name “Ryu,” which means “dragon.” However, this has a deeper meaning for the people here. Throughout history, the dragon is believed to bring luck and is seen as the god of the area. The “Rokusho Zinzya” is seen as the center of town. It is said that when people pray with the “Ema,” a traditional drawing of a horse, it made the area rain. The rain was important in bringing prosperity to the land because the region relied on agriculture. The launch of this firework is seen as an offering to the dragon god protecting the land.

There are three parts to this rocket. There is a bamboo section 20 meters long that is removed when the fire is ignited. The head of the rocket is called the “Ganta,” and contains the firework. The 60 cm long bamboo section is where the engine of the rocket called the “Fukitsutsu,” containing gunpowder, is located. The secret of how it stays ignited is kept a secret; however, it is called the “Noumin Rocket,” or a farmer’s rocket because the fundamentals of this rocket are similar to the rockets produced by NASA.
The firework will illuminate the sky as it ascends high into the sky. The white smoke will appear like a dragon. And as it descends, the sky will become colorful, shooting out a spectrum of various colors.

This event is open to the public on the 3rd Saturday of October on even-numbered years, from 12:00 to 20:30. From 12:00, 17 fireworks will be launched into the sky. At 17:30, 13 fireworks will be launched. It is recommended to watch this from at least 200 meters away to see the whole event.

The Asahina Oorysei is an event that has a long history along the Asahina River running down the town of Okabe. This event can be traced back to the Kamakura era of Japan. The river ran from the Asahina castle on the upper stream, to the Asahiyama castle downstream. The firework was used to notify an emergency and to mark the start of a festival. 13 teams would compete to see which manufacturer was superior. According to the “Sunpu-seiziroku,” in 1613, upon visiting Japan, John Saris, the minister of Great Britain’s Royal family, displayed the use of gunpowder to the Tokugawa Shogunate, the ruler of the Edo period. That time, the explosion came from a bamboo cylinder. It marked the start of the development of the fireworks used at the Asahina Oorysei.

By train and bus:
From JR Fujieda Station take the Shizutetesu Bus Chubu Kokudou Line, get off at Okabe Eigyousho. From JA Oigawa Okabe branch take the shuttle bus

By car:
Take the Shin Tomei Expressway Fujieda to Okabe IC, however, driving is not permitted from 17: 00 to 21: 00 from the Nodaizawa entrance to the Shinyukan Kaikan

Address
Okabechotono, Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture 4211112

Fujieda CIty tourist association
1-1-2 front of Fujieda CIty station, Shizuoka 4260034
Tel：+81 (0) 54-645-2500

http://shizuoka-hamamatsu-izu.com/event/asahinaryuusei/