Summer fires

Fireworks have been part of the Japanese summer for centuries. In the Kyoto area, the Uji Hanabi Taikai, held every year on August 10, is one of the bigger fireworks festivals.

If you want a good view, go early. Three hours before the show starts should do it.

There are stalls selling food and drink if you forgot to bring any. Shaved ice is a must at every summer festival but this was the first time I'd seen such a complicated machine dispensing syrups for the ice.

'Should I have gotten that flavour instead?'

But on with the show!

Some of the fireworks looked like flowers.

Some like things drifting in the wind.

And others like creatures from a strange, dark sea.

Some were in a hurry to go somewhere.

Others just had to, you know, go.

From the finale. This maple tree will be bright when its leaves turn in autumn but on that summer night, it had a little help.