On 27th August, hubby and I went to see Omagari Fireworks Festival in Daisen city of Akita prefecture. It is one of the major fireworks festivals in Japan that has been held since 1910. It is an annual national fireworks competition held on the dry bed of Omonogawa River, where selected fireworks artists from all over Japan compete to show off their techniques. The competition is divided into three categories, which are daytime fireworks hiru-hanabi, 10-gou warimono (30 centimeters round shell fireworks), and creative fireworks sozo-hanabi. Sozo-hanabi was introduced in 1964. This year was the 85th edition of Omagari Fireworks Festival, and about 17000 fireworks were displayed. The festival attracted about 700000 spectators from entire Japan to Daisen city. For those who are interested, the details about Japanese fireworks, shapes, and sizes can be found at this homepage (please click here).
We started from our home at about 10 am and took two foldable picnic chairs and a picnic sheet with us. It took us about 1.5 hours of car ride to reach Daisen city. Hubby had to park our car at a parking area that was very far from the fireworks display venue. So we had to walk for almost an hour to reach the venue. On reaching the festival site, we searched for an open area for seating and were lucky to get a nice place to sit within ten minutes of our search. After getting a seating area, we realized that it was just 1 pm and still many hours remained for the fireworks display to begin. It was a sunny and hot day, and impossible for us to sit under direct sunlight for another 4.5 hours. So we left the fireworks venue and went to a nearby place where there were many trees with shades. We spread a picnic sheet and sat under one of the trees. Hubby bought yakisoba, yakitori, kakigori, and cold drinks from a nearby food stall. We had a picnic and enjoyed eating and drinking while relaxing in the shade of the tree. We spent about four hours in the tree shade.
Hubby relaxingWe started from our home at about 10 am and took two foldable picnic chairs and a picnic sheet with us. It took us about 1.5 hours of car ride to reach Daisen city. Hubby had to park our car at a parking area that was very far from the fireworks display venue. So we had to walk for almost an hour to reach the venue. On reaching the festival site, we searched for an open area for seating and were lucky to get a nice place to sit within ten minutes of our search. After getting a seating area, we realized that it was just 1 pm and still many hours remained for the fireworks display to begin. It was a sunny and hot day, and impossible for us to sit under direct sunlight for another 4.5 hours. So we left the fireworks venue and went to a nearby place where there were many trees with shades. We spread a picnic sheet and sat under one of the trees. Hubby bought yakisoba, yakitori, kakigori, and cold drinks from a nearby food stall. We had a picnic and enjoyed eating and drinking while relaxing in the shade of the tree. We spent about four hours in the tree shade.
The display of daytime fireworks hiru-hanabi started at 5 pm but we skipped seeing it as we were not much interested. At about 5.45 pm, we walked back to the fireworks venue and sat at the seats that we had reserved earlier in the day. There were so many people around us and all were busy eating and drinking with friends and relatives.
At 6.50 pm the nighttime fireworks display started with an ‘opening event’. Hubby took a few photos and I compiled a video of this fabulous fireworks display.
A compiled video of the ‘opening event’ of the fireworks display
Next, the national creative fireworks competition sozo-hanabi started. This year twenty seven fireworks artists and manufacturers from all over Japan competed and showed off their techniques. There were spectacular displays of fireworks that used latest and highly advanced fireworks technology and very intricate techniques to form various kinds of colorful shapes and patterns in the night sky. Hubby took many photos of the fireworks patterns and I compiled three videos of some of the creative fireworks displayed.
A compiled video of a few of the creative fireworks displays
Another compiled video of a few more of the creative fireworks displays
Yet another compiled video of a few more of the creative fireworks displays
In between the creative fireworks competition, there were a few grand displays called ‘special event’. These fireworks displays were not included in the competition but were wonderful and choreographed to exciting popular music. The fireworks rose into the sky one after another and then exploded into spectacular colorful patterns. Hubby took a few photos of the fireworks patterns and I compiled a video of one of the ‘special events’ of the fireworks display.
Various fireworks patterns of one of the ‘special events’ of the fireworks display
A compiled video of the ‘special event’ of the fireworks display
In addition, there was a fireworks display called the ‘main event’ where different fireworks artists and manufacturers collaborated to give an exquisite display of colors, lights, patterns, and sound. The theme of the six-minute event was ‘Oshu shoko - yukyunaru ougon no inori’ which means ‘a new dawn for Oshu - eternal golden prayer’. This theme of the ‘main event’ was to remember and pray for those lost in the March 11 earthquake disasters and expressing hope for a recovery of the disaster struck areas. We were overwhelmed by the masterpieces and passion of the fireworks craftsmen that were on grand display. Hubby took many photos of the fireworks patterns and I compiled a video of this fireworks display.
More patterns of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display
Still more patterns of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display
Hubby overwhelmed by the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display
A compiled video of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display
The display of creative fireworks by various fireworks manufacturers continued after the ‘main event’. At about 9.30 pm, there was a ‘final event’ where a fantastic display of mostly round shell fireworks was carried out. We left the fireworks venue before the display of the ‘final event’ began but saw it while walking back towards the car-parking area. Hubby took a few photos of the fireworks patterns.
It took us about one hour to walk back to the car-parking where we had parked our car. It was about 0.15 am of the next day when we reached back our home. We loved Omagari Fireworks Festival and the grand display of color, sound, and light.
wooooooooooow I love fireworks. I get a little emotional while watching them too especially if certain songs are played with the fireworks. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carole for your comment. Yeah, hubby and I too got a bit emotional while watching the fireworks. This year the theme for many of the firework shows were based on March 11 earthquake disasters, and the melody of the songs accompanying the shows were melancholic.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed viewing some of the videos.