A person who is responsible as he/she handles dangerous explosives. People who are careful and attentive. People who are confident in their physical strength. People with a strong spirit of research.

花火師は花火を作り、打ち上げ、花火大会の運営を行う職人だ。秋から春にかけて地道に花火を作り、夏場に開かれる花火大会に向けて準備をおこなう。花火大会に使うような花火は昔ながらに一つ一つ手作りする。大量の火薬をあつかう危険な作業なので、慎重さが必要だ。打ち上げに関しては、現在、花火玉を入れた筒に電気コードをつなぎ、電気で点火することが増えている。タイミングもあらかじめコンピュータでプログラムしておいて、遠くからスイッチを入れればよく、大きな事故は減ってきているが、常に緊張感を持って仕事をしなければならない。一人前になるには10年以上の修業が必要と言われている。

No educational background or special skills are required to become a pyrotechnician. Fireworks artists are craftsmen, and they learn knowledge and skills by joining a fireworks company and apprenticing to a senior employee. Many fireworks companies are small, family-run businesses, and there are few openings for firework operators, so the only way to find one is to contact the fireworks company directly. The website of the Japan Pyrotechnics Association provides a nationwide list of companies that are members of the association. In addition, a "Production Safety Supervisor" who is in charge or supervises the production of fireworks requires a "Explosives Production Safety Supervisor License" or "Explosives Handling Safety Supervisor License" as stipulated in the Explosives Control Law, so prospective craftsmen with such licenses are highly advantageous for fireworks companies. It is advantageous to obtain these licenses at technical high schools or university science and technology departments when seeking employment.

Fireworks artisans are required to obtain a "Fireworks Consumption Safety Handbook" after acquiring a certain level of skill. This is not an official qualification, but a system voluntarily established by the Japan Pyrotechnics Association, an organization of the fireworks industry, to ensure the safety of pyrotechnicians who handle dangerous explosives. The certificate is issued only to those who have taken a safety course conducted by the association and have proven their skills as a pyrotechnician, so "certificate holder" is a proof of full-fledged professionalism.

日本の花火は夏場の花火大会が中心だが、それ以外の季節でも各種のイベントで打ち上げるケースが増えている。夜空をいろどるショーとしての花火のニーズはどんどん高くなっている。これからの花火師は花火の制作、打ち上げだけでなく、いかに観客を楽しませるかというプロデューサー的な企画力や、花火を芸術作品として演出するセンスもより求められていくだろう。また日本の大きく丸く開く花火は、その大胆さと繊細さから海外でも人気。世界中の花火大会から声をかけられる花火師もいて、活躍の舞台は広がっていくだろう。

Income varies from one fireworks company to another. One fireworks company's monthly income is about 100,000-150,000 yen when you are new.

Although it varies from company to company, from fall to spring, when there is relatively more time, there are about 6 to 8 days off per month. However, in the summer, holidays are reduced and overtime work increases due to preparations for fireworks displays.

日本全国の川、海、湖などの近くや、テーマパークなどで広い空き地に設置された打ち上げ会場。海外の花火大会の会場。

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to getting a job as a pyrotechnician!