This part of Tokyo overflows with foreign tourists, but retains its traditional Japanese roots. The downtown area is lined with factory buildings and long-established businesses; a river flows placidly through this densely packed district, murmuring along as if relating the story of its long history.

One summer day, as the glaring sun finally slips below the horizon, colorful fireworks begin to bloom in the darkening sky between the tall buildings. Held along the river, this historic fireworks festival is a beloved highlight of summer in the city, and there is something magical about festivals like this one, held against the backdrop of a bustling urban nightscape. You weave through crowds and glance upwards for glimpses of fireworks exploding in the gaps between buildings, feeling the heat of the day in the still-warm breeze that blows in from the river. The colorful lights of the festival stalls beckon, and you clutch a paper fan in one hand while your other holds a can of beer that tastes especially good on this night. This is a special time that comes only once a year.

A knit vest worn casually over a T-shirt lends even more color to this day, adding to the festivity. The fireworks eventually disappear from the night sky, but the memories of these exhilarating moments linger on, leaving us dreaming of summer festivals to come.