National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks)

[Daisen City, Akita Prefecture] Omagari Fireworks is one of the "Three Greatest Fireworks Festivals in Japan"! Enjoy the works of fireworks makers who put their reputations on the line

Fireworks displays are an essential summer event, beloved all over Japan

The chants that are always heard at fireworks displays "Tama-ya" and "Kagi-ya ." Written in kanji, "Tama-ya" and "Kagi-ya," and are the trade names of popular fireworks makers in the Edo period. The custom of shouting the trade names of these two great fireworks makers has been passed down to the present day.

In other words, fireworks festivals have long been a place to evaluate the works of fireworks makers who compete with each other

As such, there are fireworks festivals whose main purpose is to compete with other fireworks. One of these is the National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks)


What are Japan's three major fireworks festivals?

It's common knowledge that there are various theories about what is called the "Biggest Fireworks Festival in Japan," but the three that are generally referred to as "Japan's Three Biggest Fireworks Festivals" are the "National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks)" , Akita Prefecture, the "Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition" the "Nagaoka Festival Fireworks Display in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture

In addition to the fireworks festival, there are also what are known as the "Three Major Competitive Fireworks Festivals in Japan," where the "National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks)," the "Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition" in Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture the "Ise Shrine Dedicated National Fireworks Competition" in Ise City, Mie Prefecture .

It's amazing that Omagari's fireworks are listed in both the "Three Greatest Fireworks Festivals in Japan" and the "Three Greatest Competitive Fireworks Festivals in Japan"!


Omagari Fireworks is a place where fireworks artists compete with each other

The Omagari Fireworks Festival is a fireworks festival with a history of over 110 years, with its roots in the Oshu Six Prefectures Fireworks Exhibition, which was held as a sideshow at the Suwa Shrine festival in 1910 (Meiji 43)

At the National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks), prizes are awarded to outstanding works, and in 2000, the Prime Minister's Award was added as the top prize in the night fireworks category. Today, the competition has grown into one of the leading fireworks competitions in the country, with a number of prestigious awards being awarded, including the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award, and the Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency Award

National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks) "Special Starmine"
National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks) "Special Starmine"

The Omagari Fireworks Festival, which features approximately 18,000 fireworks, attracts more than 600,000 tourists every year, making it one of Japan's top fireworks festivals


Schedule of the Omagari Fireworks Festival

The National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks) is held on the last Saturday of August every year

Of course, if it coincides with a typhoon, the event will be postponed, but the postponement date has not yet been decided

National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks) "Fireworks Musical Sponsored by the Competition"
National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks) "Fireworks Musical Sponsored by the Competition"

All we can do is pray that it won't rain during the Omagari fireworks display...! After all, we all want to see the fireworks that the pyrotechnicians put so much effort into creating in the best possible conditions

Be prepared to encounter some serious traffic jams when viewing the site

When it comes to Omagari's fireworks, along with the splendor of the fireworks, we often hear stories of people encountering ridiculous traffic jams

The Omagari area has a normal population of about 40,000 people, and the city only has enough roads to meet that demand. It's only natural that more than 600,000 people will suddenly be congested in this area...but every year, traffic jams occur in various parts of Daisen City from the day of the fireworks display through the early hours of the morning after it ends

When planning your visit, be sure to make a thorough plan, including how to deal with these issues!

Omagari Fireworks <Information>

  • Name: National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks)
  • Launch location: Omagari Senbacho, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture, 014-0057
  • Access: 30 minutes on foot from JR Omagari Station, 10 minutes by car from Omagari IC on the Akita Expressway
  • Phone number: 0187-88-8073 (Omagari Fireworks Executive Committee)
  • Official URL: https://www.oomagari-hanabi.com/

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