Fireflies dance in Kumamoto

The best time to see fireflies has arrived along the river in the Kyokushi area of Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, which is famous for the glowing insects. At the foot of a mountain where a clear stream flows, tens of thousands of fireflies perform a fantastical dance every year. The degraded natural surroundings were brought back to life thanks to 40 years of conservation efforts by the locals who hatched eggs, raised larvae, and released them into the river.