Festivals of Glowing Lights: Japan's Firefly Festivals

When people think of summer in Japan, fireworks most likely come to mind, but another spectacle lights up the early summer nightsーfireflies. Traditionally, the Japanese associate fireflies with the souls of soldiers fallen in battle, as referenced in the 1988 Studio Ghibli film "Grave of the Fireflies."

The reason the fireflies are associated with fallen soldiers might be because of the names of the two most common breeds found in Japan: the Heike and the Genji. These are the names of the two warring clans in the Genpei wars of the 12th century. The Genji are the bigger and brighter variety, perhaps given their moniker because of the Genji's victory over the Heike clan.

In contrast to the war associations, Japan's Firefly Festivals are nights of peaceful and glittering reverie. On early summer nights, Japanese people flock to parks to view the tiny bugs light up the night like magical floating lanterns in the sky. The fireflies also serve as a metaphor for romantic passion, the reason why many couples come on dates. Fireflies are most likely to appear on humid days, lighting up the night after a cloudy day during the rainy season.

Although a river or rice paddy field in the countryside is the best place to see fireflies in the wild, local city dwellers carefully breed them so that firefly festivals can be enjoyed even in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. The peak time for viewing is between 7:30 and 9 at night. Usually, a special stage is also set up for performances to take place amongst the glittering lights. There are also traditional food stalls that can be found at any Japanese festival. Attending a firefly festival is a magical night that feels like drifting along in a dream.

About the author: 

Jessica Craven

Jessica Craven is a writer, artist, and designer passionate about introducing aspects of Japanese culture to English-speaking audiences. Previously, she studied Japanese traditional art forms and Japanese art history at Akita International University, worked in art museums and galleries in the United States, and returned to Japan to work in Saitama for five years on the JET Program. She is fascinated by how traditional Japanese art forms, like tea ceremony, are also closely related to philosophy and health. She currently lives in Tokyo, where she is continuing her writing career.