Soaring Dragons: Homemade Rockets Take Flight at Ryūsei Festival

Members of the ryūha Maitenryū carry their rocket to the launch tower.

(Left) A ryūsei leaves a trail of white smoke as it hurtles into the sky. (Right) The ryūsei releases its parachute and fireworks payload.

Ryūha members inspect the kayakutsutsu (engine) after a successful launch.

Burn marks left on a spent engine.

A failed ryūsei suffers explodes on the launch tower.

A successful ryūsei drifts slowly through the air.