KYODO NEWS - Jul 29, 2019 - 16:00 | All, Japan, Lifestyle

About 20,000 fireworks illuminated the sky over downtown Tokyo on the weekend as almost 960,000 people gathered on the banks of the Sumida River to enjoy the annual summer spectacular, despite earlier concern it might be called off due to an approaching typhoon.

Massive crowds of spectators packed the riverbanks and other vantage points. Extravagant firework displays are synonymous with summer in Japan and the Sumida River Fireworks Festival is one of the largest held every year in the Japanese capital.

Yuzuki Koyama, a 15-year-old clad in a traditional "yukata" summer kimono, said she came with friends for her first fireworks festival.

"I was worried it might be canceled due to the typhoon," she said. "It was great to be able to see the fireworks up close. I was moved as it was very pretty."

Many more fireworks festivals, large and small, are scheduled across Japan throughout August and early September.

All rights reserved.

No reproduction, republication or redistribution without written permission from Kyodo News.

More photos of Sumida River Fireworks Festival from 2018:

Related coverage:

GALLERY: Fireworks competition held in northeastern Japan after heavy rain

GALLERY: Firework display goes off at World Heritage site in Japan

Tokyo’s shitamachi summer festivals get underway in historic style