Photo/Illutration Titled “Suite: Pictures at an Exhibition,” a display of fireworks jointly created by four local pyrotechnicians as the highlight of the Omagari fireworks festival lights up the sky over the Omonogawa river in Daisen, Akita Prefecture, on Aug. 26, 2023. (Provided by the Daisen city government)

DAISEN, Akita Prefecture--Billed as one of Japan’s top fireworks festivals, the 96th All-Japan National Fireworks Competition will be held Aug. 31 along the Omonogawa river here, organizers announced.

Officials said 18,000 fireworks will be used for the show.

The event will close this year with a display created by a local pyrotechnics team representing Japan at an international competition taking place in Canada in July.

Better known as the Omagari fireworks festival, the event will bring together 28 pyrotechnicians from Tokyo and 11 prefectures.

It will also offer a drone show for the first time in between the fireworks displays. Officials said 1,500 drones will be used.

Prior to the festival, Team Omagari will make its debut at the International Fireworks Competition to be held in Montreal this summer to represent Japan.

The team comprises four local companies: Kitanihon Hanabi Kogyo Co., Komatsu Fireworks Co., Hibikiya Omagari Fireworks Co. and Wabiya Inc.

Billed as one of the world’s top fireworks contests, the Canadian event also attracts pyrotechnicians from Italy, Austria, Mexico, Canada and France.

The Japanese team will be the first to unveil its works, titled “The Greatest Hanabi Show,” on July 4.

The centerpiece of the Omagari festival, called “The Greatest Show,” is a recreation of the fireworks to be displayed at the Canadian event.

While the Montreal edition sees 4,600 fireworks shot off into the sky in 30 minutes, the Omagari version will set off 2,000 shells in five minutes in rapid-fire manner.

“We intend to stage a spectacular fireworks show,” a member of the executive committee said.

The daytime fireworks competition using colored smoke will start at 5:10 p.m., while the nighttime event will begin at 6:50 p.m.

Prepaid viewing seats will be set up for 102,000 spectators, sold for between 50,000 yen ($320) and 7,000 yen, including tax.

The first batch of tickets will be sold online from June 10, with the second batch set for sale from July 16.

For more information, visit the official website at (https://www.oomagari-hanabi.com/).

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