Hanabi Matsuri

Yesterday I went to my first hanabi matsuri, or fireworks festival. These are very popular in Japan in the summer, and put 4th of July shows to shame. Yesterday's festival in the Yokohama bay lasted over an hour, with images of smiley faces, cherry blossoms, hearts, and Hello Kitty lighting up the sky. And it saw so many people that I couldn't call or email from my phone for almost an hour due to the busy network. These summer festivals are also fun because Japanese men and women of all ages dress in the traditional yukata, which is an informal summer kimono often made of cotton. Here's a pic of a couple in yukata: