"Karakuri Fireworks" in Ryukyu Kingdom

　There used to be "karakuri fireworks" in the Ryukyu Kingdom. Since fireworks could not be launched in the garden of Shurijo Castle, fireworks were instead set off in elaborate karakuri to surprise and delight the king and his Chinese guests. The bearers of these fireworks were the samurai of Shuri, and it was a major undertaking that put their family's honor on the line. However, with the disappearance of the Ryukyu Kingdom, the tradition of fireworks also disappeared.

　The National Theatre Okinawa has restored a karakuri fireworks display based on a record of fireworks at Shuri Castle in 1866 called “Hibanahou Nikki (Diary of Fireworks bearers)”. The result is a revival of the cultural brilliance of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which had been considered a mirage.