Omagari National Fireworks Competition - Akita, Japan

August 25th 2007. The Omagari Fireworks Competition is held every year on the 4th Saturday of August. It is attended by 760,000 people in a town that has a population of 60,000!

Haga Fireworks setting up for their competition.





All 12" shells set up for the night competition.


View of the audience on the far end from the shoot site. The crane is holding up loudspeakers.










The competition is split up into 3 categories: Day Fireworks, Night fireworks and most creative company. There are about 30 Japanese companies competing in this event. In the night fireworks competition, each team submit 2 x 12" shells followed by a 2.5 minute display to music.

Below are the 12" shells from Haga.



Below is the 2.5 minute display by Haga.



Here is what it looks like watching the competition!



You can either buy tickets for reserved seats or just go early and look for an open area for seating.

Here are a few "square" sections of reserved seating for 6 people.