Last night after 11 PM, a streak of light seen over Nagoya Port was a “fireball.”

Fireballs are particularly bright among shooting stars.

While ordinary shooting stars are caused by cosmic dust the size of sand grains, fireballs are considerably larger, making them much brighter.

In Owase City, Mie Prefecture, the entire sky lit up momentarily, like lightning.

Last night, a bright fireball was observed in various parts of western Japan, including Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

According to an expert, a fireball this bright can sometimes result in a meteorite reaching the ground and causing damage, but in this case, it likely fell into the ocean south of Kyushu.

Nagoya Port

Nagoya Port is a major international trading port in central Japan, which opened in 1907 and was instrumental in the region’s industrial growth. It is historically significant for its role during World War II and its subsequent reconstruction, becoming a symbol of the city’s economic recovery. Today, the port area also features popular public attractions, including an aquarium and a maritime museum.

Owase City

Owase City is a historic port town located in Mie Prefecture, Japan, which flourished from the Edo period as a vital hub for the Kitamaebune trade ships. It is renowned for its deep connection to the timber industry, its dramatic, mountainous coastline, and its unique festival, the Owase Yama Festival, which features elaborate floats. Today, it remains a key fishing port and is part of the Kumano Kodō pilgrimage routes, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mie Prefecture

Mie Prefecture is a historically significant region in central Japan, home to the Ise Grand Shrine, one of Shinto’s most sacred sites, which has been ritually rebuilt every 20 years since the 7th century. It is also renowned as the birthplace of the ninja, with the Iga region housing a famous ninja museum. The prefecture’s extensive coastline along the Pacific Ocean also provides a major portion of Japan’s farmed pearls.

Kansai International Airport

Kansai International Airport is a major international hub located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, Japan. It first opened in 1994 and was renowned as the world’s first ocean airport, engineered to address space constraints and noise pollution concerns on the mainland. The airport serves as a critical gateway to the Kansai region, including the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe.

Osaka

Osaka is a major port city and commercial hub in Japan, historically known as the nation’s “kitchen” for its crucial role in the rice trade during the Edo period. Its most famous landmark, Osaka Castle, was originally built in the 16th century by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Today, the city is renowned for its modern architecture, vibrant street food culture, and outgoing locals.

Kyushu

Kyushu is Japan’s third-largest island, located southwest of the main island of Honshu. Historically, it was the gateway for early cultural exchanges with Korea and China, and it was the site of the first recorded contact with Europeans in the 16th century. The region is also known for its active volcanoes, numerous hot springs (onsen), and the historic city of Nagasaki.