Japan unveils world’s first water-soluble fireworks
Kyoto: A fireworks maker and a university professor who teamed up over a shared love of things that go “boom” and “bloom” have brought to market what may be the world’s first water-soluble fireworks.
Hiroyuki Kakinoki, president of Kakinoki Fireworks Industry Co., and Professor Takahiko Nakaoki of Ryukoku University unveiled shells and canisters designed to dissolve harmlessly after use.
The partnership began in 2018, when Kakinoki had given up on developing eco-friendly shells after repeated failures with resins. Instead of inventing a new material, the duo turned to a water-soluble resin already used for agricultural seeds and soil improvers.
When wet, the shell becomes sloughy “like hot caramel” and breaks down into the environment through an already-approved medium. That means no casings left for street sweepers to collect in the days after a festival.
It’s a big advantage in Japan, where many fireworks shows are held over rivers, lakes or the ocean. Most casings will vanish within hours in water.
The new design also cuts packaging waste. While kraft paper is still used to keep moisture away during storage, the water-soluble fireworks use about half as much paper as traditional shells.
“I want 10,000 of the 20,000 fireworks we plan to produce this year to be eco-friendly ones,” Kakinoki told the Mainichi Shimbun. The company aims to scale production as demand for cleaner celebrations grows.
