Nagaoka Fireworks is one of
the three most famous fireworks in Japan.
Nagaoka Fireworks attracts people’s attention with its splendor, but its origins can be traced back to the “Nagaoka Reconstruction Festival” held on August 1, 1945 as a memorial service for those who lost their lives in the Nagaoka Air Raid and as a wish for reconstruction of the area.
80% of the old city area was burned down and 1,486 precious lives were lost on that tragic summer day.
To remember this sadness and to join hands for reconstruction, they have been launched to this day as a memorial to the dead and a prayer for reconstruction and peace.
What are the three major fireworks in Japan?
The three major fireworks in Japan are
the Omagari Fireworks (Akita Prefecture), the Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition (Ibaraki Prefecture), and the Nagaoka Fireworks.
The three major fireworks festivals in Japan are not all the same, and while Omagari and Tsuchiura Fireworks are competitions for pyrotechnicians, Nagaoka Fireworks is a fireworks display for memorial, restoration, and peace.
Nagaoka Fireworks is a fireworks display that includes prayers for consolation, reconstruction, and peace.
Also, while the Omagari and Tsuchiura fireworks are held over a single day, the Nagaoka fireworks are held over two days.
Comparison of the three major fireworks in Japan
| National Fireworks Competition “Omagari Fireworks” | Approx. 18,000 rounds/day |
|---|---|
| Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition | Approx. 20,000 rounds/day |
| Nagaoka Grand Fireworks Festival | Approx. 20,000 rounds/2 days |
| National Fireworks Competition “Omagari Fireworks” | Max. size 10 ball |
|---|---|
| Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition | Max. size 10 ball |
| Nagaoka Grand Fireworks Festival | Max. size 30 ball |
| National Fireworks Competition “Omagari Fireworks” | Approx. 800,000 persons/day |
|---|---|
| Tsuchiura National Fireworks Competition | Approx. 800,000 persons/day |
| Nagaoka Grand Fireworks Festival | Approx. 1,020,000/2 days |
prayer
The Shosan Shakudama was launched for the first time in Nagaoka in 1926 and has become synonymous with Nagaoka fireworks.
It is 90 cm in diameter, weighs 300 kg, and uses 80 kg of gunpowder, the maximum weight currently legally allowed.
When this large ball is launched 600 meters into the sky, a huge ring with a diameter of 650 meters fills the field of view.
The roar of the fireworks is so powerful that it shakes the air.
Only the Nagaoka fireworks can be seen together with the 650-meter-long “Niagara.
In addition, the “triple shot” of the Shosan Shakudama, which appeared in 2015 and blew the minds of fireworks lovers in the audience, will be realized again in 2018!
Finally, we must not forget the
Memorial and Prayer for Peace,”
which is launched to commemorate the spirits of the dead and express wishes for world peace.
most impact
The “Shosanshakudama,” the famous fireworks of the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, features a large blooming width of approximately 650 meters in diameter.
The weight of the ball is 300 kg, the amount of gunpowder used is as much as 80 kg, and three shots of the super-sized fireworks, the Shosanshakudama, are shot off.
It is characterized not only by its size but also by the roar that is transmitted as soon as it blooms.
In Phoenix, the bloom width is over 2 km!
At the last, we say “Thank you” with lights to the pyrotechnists.
| Location | Nagaoka Fireworks Foundation |
|---|---|
| best time to see | August 1st.2nd.3rd |
| address (e.g. of house) | Around the Shinanogawa riverbed downstream of Chosei Bridge, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture | organizing | Nagaoka Fireworks Foundation | joint sponsorship | Individuals and companies etc. |