/ 2025 / Portraiture / Culture

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Kotomi Sakai, Japan
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/koto_sakai/

This photograph captures the breathtaking moment of Tezutsu Hanabi, a traditional Japanese handheld firework, during a local festival in Japan. The intense blaze erupting from the cylindrical tube held by the performer embodies not only the raw power of fire, but also the deep-rooted cultural heritage and spiritual courage passed down through generations. Tezutsu Hanabi is more than a spectacle—it is a ritual of endurance, respect, and connection between man and fire. The photograph seeks to convey the intensity, beauty, and soul of this cultural tradition.