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Jigsaw puzzles from Japan

Fireworks

Feature page for August 2008

Fireworks in Japan have a history of nearly five hundred years, and the summer without them would now be unthinkable. There are large displays across the country, some of them famous - the Sumida-gawa fireworks in Tokyo, or the Nagaoka firework festival near Niigata on the west coast. At the same time, sparklers and other hand-held fireworks continue to delight children of all ages...

This page celebrates the issue by Epoch in summer 2007 of a new series of fireworks photo puzzles (all in small pieces) – and more issued for summer 2008. A slightly unusual subject for a puzzle, this offers some new challenges. I did the 450-piece Nagaoka fireworks puzzle, and it's not the easiest, the colourful streaks of light tending to turn into an abstract mass. But there are extra clues, too: since each line is the path of a body in free fall, it's generally possible to see at a glance which way up a piece goes. (If you want to get technical, each line is a parabola, curving downwards.)

On this page: Photo puzzles - Fireworks in art

Photo puzzles

2542: Firework collection

Japan has a long tradition of large-scale firework displays, and here is a collection of the many different types.

This puzzle has smaller pieces than the standard size.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 2542 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E76013 (76-013 on package)
Retail price ¥3900 (approx. US$26.71 €24.68 £21.20)

All about ordering (please read first)

1000: Nagaoka fireworks

Nagaoka, near Niigata on the west coast, is famous for its annual summer firework display on the banks of Shinanogawa, the longest river in Japan. This makes an interestingly different puzzle!

This is a glow-in-the-dark puzzle.

In stock
A Beverly puzzle: 1000 pieces; 720 x 490 mm (28" x 19")
Code: B31470 (31-470 on package)
Retail price ¥3300 (approx. US$22.60 €20.89 £17.93)

All about ordering (please read first)

500: Sumidagawa firework display

Sumidagawa is the great river through Tokyo that is the site of this annual summer firework display.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 500 pieces; 530 x 380 mm (21" x 15")
Code: E79104 (79-104 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.33 €11.39 £9.78)

All about ordering (please read first)

500: Miyajima fireworks

The great torii, or Shinto ceremonial gateway of Itsukushima shrine stands vividly silhouetted against a firework display. Completed in 1875, this torii is somewhat unusually sited in the tidal part of the bay, and is famous as one of the traditional "Three sights of Japan."

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 500 pieces; 380 x 530 mm (15" x 21")
Code: E79105 (79-105 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.33 €11.39 £9.78)

All about ordering (please read first)

500: Nagaoka firework display

The famous firework display in Nagaoka, on the banks of Shinanogawa, the longest river in Japan...

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 500 pieces; 530 x 380 mm (21" x 15")
Code: E79174 (79-174 on package)
Retail price ¥1800 (approx. US$12.33 €11.39 £9.78)

All about ordering (please read first)

Fireworks in art

1000: Snoopy fireworks show (Peanuts)

Venice is the setting for this fabulous firework display watched by Snoopy and friends...

For fifty years Charles M Schulz (1922-2000) drew the Peanuts cartoon strip, featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang, who have become some of the best-known characters all over the world.

This is a glow-in-the-dark puzzle.

In stock
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: E12049 (12-049 on package)
Retail price ¥3600 (approx. US$24.66 €22.78 £19.57)

All about ordering (please read first)

1000: Phoenix reborn (Fujishiro)

A phoenix emerges from a dazzling firework display, while a lone dwarf piper stands in a boat on the river. A beautiful example of Fujishiro's work, but the large black areas will make it quite a challenge.

Born in 1924, Fujishiro has had a long and productive career as an illustrator - producing many children's books, and creating his own brand of fantasy along the way. From an early involvement with shadow puppetry, he developed his own unique style: he calls these kage-e (literally "shadow pictures"), but his is a backlit world not of black and white (or grey), but of wonderful translucent colours, apparently made mostly from tissue paper.

He is still active at the age of 80, and his work has appeared all over the world, most recently (February 2005) in New York and Washington.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 750 x 500 mm (30" x 20")
Code: A10697 (1000-697 on package)
Retail price ¥3600 (approx. US$24.66 €22.78 £19.57)

All about ordering (please read first)

Aside (particularly) to UK readers

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November..."

In my childhood, in England, fireworks were associated with one particular dark cold winter night, Guy Fawkes night, and at first summer fireworks seemed incongruous, like spending Christmas Day on the beach. But of course, even if summer evenings in England were warm enough, they would still be too light! In most of Japan, July evenings are dark by half past seven.