#041: Hana-bi (Fireworks) (Semiweekly-pedia of Japan)

#041: Hana-bi (Fireworks) (category: entertainment)

As everybody knows, fireworks are very popular among people in any countries in the world. This entertainment is called "hana-bi" in Japan. "Hana" is a flower in English, and "bi" is another pronunciation of a Japanese word "hi" (meaning fire). So, the word "hana-bi" literally means "a flower of fire".

Japanese people love hana-bi so much that dozens of hit songs named Hana-bi can be found in this country. Also, you might know a world-famous movie Hana-bi directed by Takeshi Kitano, which won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival in 1997.

(Monday, August 19th, 2013)    See Archive