Those lucky enough to be strolling along the Sumida River in central Tokyo last week were treated to a visual feast of 100,000 “simulated” hotaru (fireflies) floating down the river. As part of the inaugural Tokyo Hotaru Festival, Panasonic provided the LED lights, or “prayer stars,” for the festivities. Each glowing ball, made to resemble a swarm of fireflies, was designed to light up upon contact with the water. After illuminating a large stretch of the river, the 100% solar powered LEDs were all retrieved in a large net.
If you, like me, are smitten by fireflies, check out these stunning long-exposure photos of fireflies by Tsuneaki Hiramatsu.
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