1. Who Shouted "Tamaya" and "Kagiya"? The Fireworks Rivalry on the Sumida River
In Edo, fireworks were launched from Ryogoku Bridge over the Sumida River. The upper part of the river was handled by Tamaya, while the lower part was handled by Kagiya [3]. Every time a good firework went up, the audience would shout the name of the shop that launched it. This is said to be why the shouts "Tamaya!" and "Kagiya!" became popular during their competition. However, exactly when these shouts started and records of people actually shouting them are not clear.
Kagiya was an old shop founded in Edo in 1659 (Manji Year 2). Its first owner, Yahei, is said to have come from Yamato (now Gojo City in Nara Prefecture) [4]. Tamaya was started by a craftsman who had been a head clerk at Kagiya. He left Kagiya to start his own shop through a tradition called "noren wake" (splitting off from the parent business). There are several theories about when this happened, with 1808 being one possibility. The shop was located in Ryogoku Yoshikawa-cho and was run by Ichibei Tamaya [4].
So, a new shop split off from an old one and became just as popular. This sounds like a success story. But why did Tamaya eventually have to leave Edo?
2. Why Did a Small Fire in 1843 Lead to Tamaya's Banishment from Edo?
In 1843 (Tenpo Year 14), a fire started at Tamaya’s home in Ryogoku Yoshikawa-cho. It burned down about half a *cho* (a traditional Japanese unit of length, roughly 50 meters or 164 feet) of the neighborhood [1]. Records disagree on the exact date; some say April 17, while others say May 17.
Fires at shops that handle gunpowder were always treated very seriously. This fire happened during the *Nikko Sankin* (the pilgrimage to Nikko) of the 12th Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyoshi. Because of this timing and the danger of gunpowder, Tamaya was ordered to leave Edo. This punishment is called *zokubai* (banishment), meaning they could no longer do business in the city [1]. Some sources also say their property was confiscated, but accounts vary on this detail.
The period when Tamaya and Kagiya competed lasted about 30 years, depending on which start date you use. All About describes this competition as lasting "only 32 years" and says that only the name remained in the shouts [1].
However, it is too early to say Tamaya simply ended. Sources disagree about what happened to them after they were banished.
Safety Note for Readers: In history, handling gunpowder was extremely dangerous. The reason the punishment was so severe in 1843 was partly because a gunpowder shop caused a fire during the Shogun's Nikko Sankin (pilgrimage). This shows how seriously safety and public order were taken.
3. Did Tamaya Disappear Completely After It Left Edo?
Sources are divided on what happened to Tamaya after they left Edo. One source says Tamaya moved from Ryogoku Yoshikawa-cho to an area in front of Seigenji Temple (north of Asakusa), or possibly to Fukagawa Kaibei Daiku-machi. They tried to restart their business but never regained their old popularity [5]. Another source says Tamaya simply ended there.
One clue is the grave. The family temple for Edo Tamaya is said to be Komyoji in Ueno Moto-Asakusa. A grave there is said to show that a head of the family died in 1890 (Meiji Year 23). If this is true, it suggests there was still a Tamaya head after the banishment [5]. However, this information comes from a personal website run by an individual, so we can only say it is "possible," not certain.
In short, we cannot say for sure if Tamaya "completely vanished" or "continued quietly." What we do know is that Tamaya stopped being a prominent name in the Edo fireworks world. But then, unexpectedly, the name came back to life when another company took over the shop curtain.
4. How Did a Chiba Company Take Over the Name Tamaya 120 Years Later?
In Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture, there is a fireworks company called "Ganso Tamaya" (Original Tamaya). According to their official history, the company started in 1915 (Taisho Year 4) as Nakajima Smoke and Fireworks Store. Then, in 1961 (Showa Year 36), they took over the *noren* (shop curtain/brand) of "Tamaya" from Ryogoku Yoshikawa-cho and established Tamaya Fireworks Store, later changing their name to Ganso Tamaya [2].
It is important to note that the official website only mentions taking over the *noren*. It does not say they are related by blood to the Edo Tamaya. It also does not explain who gave them the name or why. Because family ties are not mentioned, we cannot tell from official records if there is a real connection to the original shop.
If we calculate the time: 1961 minus 1843 equals 118 years. This gap is nearly four times longer than the roughly 30 years Tamaya competed in Edo. However, this is just the difference in years; it does not mean the name was hidden for that long.
So, what kind of work does the current Tamaya do?
5. Ganso Tamaya Today: A Family Making Fireworks by Hand
According to an article in *Toksatsu Mainichi*, Ganso Tamaya is run by four people: the representative, Katsu Nakajima, and his three sons. They make fireworks shells by hand and launch them themselves [6]. They have participated in events like the Yachiyo Hometown Parent-Child Festival and the Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition. Note that this information was current at the time of reporting, so the number of people or events may have changed.
The article also shares a craftsman’s tip: to make a perfect spherical firework shell, you must paste kraft paper evenly. If it is uneven, the shell will not be round [6].
The same article states that today, only two companies use the name "Tamaya": the main Kagiya shop and Ganso Tamaya [6]. Kagiya has continued its family line since Edo. It is now run by the 15th generation and works on events like the Edogawa Ward Fireworks Festival [4].
The paths of these two shops are different. Kagiya kept its family lineage for a long time. Tamaya’s lineage became unclear, but the name was passed to the current fireworks company. The shout "Tamaya!" and the modern company both retain the name from the Edo shop.
6. Try It Yourself: Calculate the Years and Find Fireworks Shop Names Near You
You can try calculating the history yourself. Use a calculator or paper and pencil to subtract 1843 from 1961. The result is 118 years. Then, compare this to the roughly 30 years Tamaya competed in Edo. How many times bigger is 118 than 30? This helps you feel how much time passed between the two eras.
If you go to a fireworks festival, check the program or website. The names of the shops launching the fireworks are sometimes listed there. If you see a shop name, look up when and where it started. You might discover the origin of the shop name (yago).
If you want to read more, the official history of Ganso Tamaya [2] and the Gojo City page "Fireworks Culture and Kagiya Yahei" [4] are available in Japanese. Reading them side by side shows the different paths Tamaya and Kagiya took after their rivalry.