TEA Okazaki Mint Green

Story How to Experience Ingredients The city of Okazaki, located in Aichi Prefecture, is the fireworks capital of Japan – more than 70% of the country’s fireworks are produced within the city limits.  Interestingly, while fireworks have been made in Okazaki since at least the day of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868), most of the companies that produce them are no more than 30 or 40 years old.  Why? Due to Japanese insurance regulations, if a factory blows up it’s just cheaper to start a new company. Ka-boom! Naturally, for a city made famous by blowing things up, the biggest day of the year in Okazaki is a fireworks festival that draws revelers from all over Japan.  The night is huge – fireworks are set from two locations far enough away not to shatter windows in the town. The festival is so famous that its size is considered a good indicator of the state of the national economy.  If things are good, the explosions are plentiful.  If the economy is lagging, they’re a little thin.