A total of 10,000 fireworks illuminated the night sky in Futaba Town, Fukushima Prefecture, with wishes for reconstruction of the town devastated by the earthquake and nuclear accident of 2011.
The evacuation order issued after the disaster is still in place in many parts of Futaba, one of the towns in which the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is located.
In an event on Saturday, 10,000 fireworks were shot up into the night sky. About 4,500 people watched the spectacle.
The event was organized by a pyrotechnics association in Fukushima and local residents.
Messages from Futaba residents were read out as the fireworks were set off in quick succession.
The fireworks included some provided by pyrotechnicians in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, which has been hit by an earthquake and torrential rain this year.
Spectators enjoyed the colorful show of fireworks and wished for the reconstruction of their communities.
A woman in her 30s came from Nihonmatsu City in Fukushima prefecture with her family. She said she was impressed by the magnificent fireworks, and expressed hope for more progress in reconstruction efforts.
Takakura Isuke, who is a district leader in Futaba, said that he was overwhelmed by feelings. The fireworks reminded him of deceased people in the district and the hardships that locals have gone through after the disaster.
He said he hopes the event has energized the town in its moves toward full recovery.