Fireworks light up sky over Tokyo during Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival

China

Fireworks light up sky over Tokyo during Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival

2025-07-27 16:52 Last Updated At：20:07

Fireworks lit up the night sky over Tokyo on Saturday evening during the Sumidagawa Firework Festival, one of Japan's biggest annual fireworks shows.

Approximately 20,000 gorgeous fireworks were launched from both sides of the Sumida River during this edition of the annual summer event.

Many people came to the area quite early to get a perfect spot to enjoy the show. More than 600 lucky spectators were offered a unique opportunity to watch the fireworks from a special location - on top of the iconic Tokyo Skytree tower.

The 350-meter high observation deck gave them an unparalleled experience of the centuries-old event.

"I came to watch the fireworks last year too. It's a lot more upgraded than last year. It looks beautiful," said a visitor.

"Usually we look up from the ground to enjoy the fireworks in China. This time we are watching the fireworks from high above. It is quite a unique and impressive experience," said a Chinese tourist.

"As a special business for the Sumidagawa Firework Festival, we had 634 customers come up to the Skytree [to enjoy the fireworks] this year. It is great that the event went smoothly this year. And we are so happy to see visitors so pleased," said Kato Hitomi with the Secretariat of Public Relations of Tobu Tower Skytree.

This year's Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival attracted around 930,000 spectators, according to organizers.

US military says blockade against Iran to be continuously "fully implemented"

U.S. military forces continue to enforce "U.S. sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports", U.S. Central Command said on social media Saturday.

In a post on X, the U.S. Central Command said that 37 vessels have been redirected since the start of the blockade, noting a merchant vessel named Sevan, intercepted in the Arabian Sea earlier Saturday by the U.S. forces, is currently "complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort".

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 12 that the U.S. Navy would begin blocking ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. His decision came after the first round of U.S.-Iranian talks on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to produce a peace deal.

In response to Trump's announcement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that "any threat against the security of the Strait of Hormuz will have large-scale consequences for global trade".

On Saturday, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated its pledge to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region. Trump announced earlier Saturday that he has canceled the trip of U.S. representatives going to Islamabad this weekend for talks with the Iranian side.