Traditional offering fireworks entrusting Tatsue’s prayers to sparks
Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year in September / Every year
- Location
- Tatsue Hachiman Shrine
- Area
- Tokushima Prefecture・Komatsushima City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 15 min–1 h 35 min · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks, a tradition in Tatsue-cho, Komatsushima City, are a traditional fire festival offered at Tatsue Hachiman Shrine. Sparks fly from the bamboo tubes, while nerikomi processions and festival music passed down through the community bring color to the festival night.
About Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks
Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks are a fire festival offered at Tatsue Hachiman Shrine.
Bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder are attached to poles about 7 meters long, sending sparks flying from the ends of the tubes.
They have been performed as a every September since the Edo period, with prayers for bountiful harvests, household safety, and protection from misfortune.
Tatebi is designated an intangible folk cultural property of Komatsushima City.
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the offering of cylindrical fireworks attached to poles about 7 meters long, sending a powerful shower of sparks into the air.
In addition to the fireworks, the nerikomi procession takes place: participants pass through the gate to the rhythm of Ise-bushi and wooden clappers, then receive a purification ritual in the shrine’s main hall.
The nighttime ceremonies also feature the Urayasu dance and musical performances, letting visitors enjoy the sounds and fire of Tatsue’s traditional festival.
Source: 立江八幡神社 秋季例大祭 | 徳島県観光情報サイト阿波ナビ
Traditional offering fireworks entrusting Tatsue’s prayers to sparks
What to expect
The festival features offerings including nerikomi, a traditional local procession, Gion-bayashi music, the Urayasu dance, and musical performances.
At night, Tatebi fireworks are offered, featuring cylindrical and launched fireworks.
There is also a tradition of visitors taking home fireworks after they have been offered, then hanging them beneath the eaves by the entrance as charms to invite good fortune and ward off misfortune.
How to take part
Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks are a festival offered at the shrine, where visitors can watch fireworks, dances, and festival music.
The nerikomi procession and the making and offering of fireworks are carried on by the local preservation association and other people involved.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Tatsue Hachiman Shrine (109 Aomori, Tatsue-cho, Komatsushima City)
- Train and bus
Get off at Tatsue Station or Awa-Akaishi Station on the JR Mugi Line; it is a 10-minute walk.
Address 109 Aomori, Tatsue-cho, Komatsushima City, Tokushima Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Every year in September
- Frequency
Every year
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Tokushima Prefecture / Komatsushima City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Cylindrical fireworks use gunpowder, and sparks fly in all directions. When watching, follow the shrine’s or organizers’ guidance and view the fireworks from a safe place.
As the fireworks are offered at night, it is a good idea to check your transportation options for the return trip in advance.
Details about the dates and events may vary from year to year, so please check the latest information for the day.
Nearby attractions
日峰神社
徳島県小松島市中田町にある神社
日峯大神子広域公園
徳島県徳島市と小松島市にまたがる公園
Origins and History of Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks
Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks are said to have been offered at Tatsue Hachiman Shrine since the Edo period.
One account of the origins says that the Ogasawara clan, who arrived from Shinshu during the Tenmon era, taught parishioners how to make fireworks.
In the past, groups from each area made and offered the fireworks, but the tradition declined due to a shortage of people to pass it on. The Fireworks Preservation Association was formed in Heisei 1, helping ensure the tradition continues today.
Official information
Komatsushima City provides information about the designation of Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks as an intangible folk cultural property, their origins, the offering customs, and the preservation association’s efforts to pass on the tradition.
For the 2026 autumn grand festival at Tatsue Hachiman Shrine, the Tokushima Prefecture tourism website Awa Navi lists the venue, event details, and access information.
Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks at a Glance
Tatebi Cylindrical Fireworks are a festival offered at Tatsue Hachiman Shrine, carrying on a tradition of fire and the community’s prayers.
Highlights include cylindrical fireworks sending sparks from poles about 7 meters long, as well as the nerikomi procession, festival music, and dances.
The preservation association protects a tradition dating back to the Edo period and keeps it alive today as a festival in Tatsue.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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