Quote Originally Posted by Elizabeth
Besides, the hatsumoude tradition is built around getting up at dawn for the first sunlight and visit to a temple, so fireworks may seem too flashy, too early in the morning
I agree with this. I think beginning the year by showing priests or their diciples at temples or the scenes from other various places in Japan quietly on TV seems to fit better in their tradition.

I always felt kind of like a sustained intensity in a very quiet atmosphere they had on New Year's day in Japan. It's a different type of excitement from fireworks, but that's how they celebrate a New Year although if I'm not mistaken by port of Yokohama, they have fireworks.