The Illustrated Fireworks of Jinta Hirayama, circa 1877

When Jinta Hirayama opened a fireworks company with Shigeho Iwata in 1877, he effectively rewrote the book on Japanese pyrotechnics. Before his time, displays dominated by a single color were common in Japan; then Hirayama began showcasing fireworks infused with new and vibrant shades, and everything changed.

Before long, the name “Hirayama Fireworks” was known far beyond Japan’s borders, and the company did significant business overseas. Hirayama is even credited as the first Japanese citizen to receive a U.S. patent, which he accomplished in 1883.

Below are excerpts from several of the company’s internationally focused catalogs. You can view many more illustrations - and even download them, if you want - at a website maintained by the city of Yokohama, the one-time home of Hirayama Fireworks. Find those images here.