The firework industry in Niigata Prefecture is famous, and the firework makers in Niigata and a few other prefectures satisfy greater part of the domestic demand in fireworks. Especially, the Japanese largest firework, so called “Yonshaku dama” which is approximately 120 centimeters in diameter, can be produced and launched only by Niigata's firework technology.
Gunpowder was historically introduced to Japan with gun technology in 1543. Since gun armament was prohibited by Tokugawa government in the Edo period, gunpowder makers had to resign their posts and some have supposed to become firework artisans. “Kagiya” as the first firework maker in the Edo City, have opened a store in 1659. Skyrocket-type modern fireworks were invented about 100 years after then. The Japanese skyrocket-type fireworks, well known as “Japanese Style Firework” in the world, have spherical outside appearance, and it open spherically once launched to the sky, in contrast to cylindrical shape of European fireworks.
Firework technology seemed to have been transmitted from the Kansai district not only to the Edo City, but also to some rice field basins of large rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan in the Northeast Japan, such as Katakai Town, perhaps related to “Kitamae” cargo boat services.

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Heibon (published by Magazine House) was founded as a literary magazine in 1945, but it changed into a popular magazine for amusement in 1948. It had two main elements-photogravures and stories. Being tied up with both radio and cinema in many ways, it enlarged its circulation during the first half of the 1950's. However, with the spread of TV during the 1960's, Heibon changed into a magazine whose main element was photogravures featuring TV celebrities. By doing so, it expanded its circulation again during the first half of the 1970's, but was finally discontinued in 1987.

The discontinuation of the magazine may be explained by three factors influencing each other. First, the change from the age of radio and cinema into that of TV diminished the role of Heibon. Second, Myojo (published by Shueisha) gained more popularity than Heibon since the 1970's. Third, Magazine House changed into a company mainly publishing ‘lifestyle-magazines’ which depend heavily on income from advertisements.

The three changes about Heibon - two changes of itself and one change of its publisher are very important when we examine popular magazines in post-war Japan.

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