Omagari Fireworks Festival - One of Japan's Three Major Fireworks Festivals

The Omagari Fireworks Festival, known as the "National Fireworks Competition," is held annually in Omagari, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, and is recognized as one of Japan's three major fireworks festivals and the nation's most prestigious fireworks competition. With origins dating back to 1910 (Meiji 43), when the "Ou Rokken Enka Kyoshinkai" began as entertainment for the Suwa Shrine Festival, this event boasts over a century of tradition.

The festival's greatest distinction is being the only competition in Japan to feature both daytime and nighttime fireworks on the same day. In the daytime fireworks category, pyrotechnicians compete using colored smoke to paint beautiful patterns and colors across the blue sky, showcasing their technical prowess and artistic vision. The nighttime fireworks include "shiniribari-mono" (core-insert shells), where perfectly spherical 10-gō dama (尺玉) shells expand to approximately 300 meters in diameter, displaying multi-layered beauty; "jiyū-dama" (free-style shells) that require delicate craftsmanship such as senrin-giku (thousand-wheel chrysanthemums) and kanmuri-giku (crown chrysanthemums); and the "sōzō hanabi" (creative fireworks) category, introduced in 1964 as the world's first, which emphasizes synchronization with music and thematic storytelling, presenting fireworks as a comprehensive art form.

Approximately 28 pyrotechnic companies selected from across the nation participate in the competition to showcase their skills. The technical level is extremely high, earning it the nickname "the Olympics of fireworks." The highest award is the Prime Minister's Award, and the competition features the most numerous prizes in fireworks competitions, including the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award and the Director of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award.

Another highlight of the festival is the "taikai teikyō hanabi" (festival-provided fireworks) launched between competitive rounds. The wide starmine displays prepared over a year by local youth groups span hundreds of meters in width and captivate audiences with spectacular rapid-fire presentations. In recent years, collaborative performances featuring drones and fireworks have been added, creating a unique entertainment experience that fuses traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology.

With approximately 18,000 fireworks launched annually and attracting over 700,000 visitors, this is one of Japan's largest regional fireworks festivals. Its convenient location, about a 25-minute walk from JR Omagari Station, draws fireworks enthusiasts and tourists from across the country. Daisen City also hosts themed fireworks festivals in spring, autumn, and winter, earning its reputation as a "fireworks town" year-round.

The Omagari Fireworks Festival, combining the pinnacle of Japanese fireworks culture with the passion of local residents, continues to move countless visitors as both a quintessential summer tradition and a world-class cultural event.