Displays of fireworks are a natural part of summertime in Japan. On weekends in July and August, fireworks displays are held on the banks of rivers throughout the country. Embankments and streets bustle with people dressed in traditional summer clothing called yukata, and for over an hour beautiful fireworks are set off. In the vicinity of Tokyo there are several fireworks displays every year, however, the most traditional and best known among them is the fireworks festival at the Sumida River. The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is said to have started over 250 years ago during the mid Edo period. One year, there was an unusually poor harvest and many people died of starvation. In order to comfort their souls and to disperse evil spirits, a festival was held at the Sumida River in honor of the god of water. It is said that the current fireworks festival tradition began after they had fireworks at that water god festival. At the 2004 Sumida River Fireworks Festival over 20,000 fireworks were launched and nearly one million people came to view the display.