The Montreal International Fireworks Festival in Canada, where the Omagari Fireworks Festival Executive Committee from Daisen City, Akita Prefecture participated for the first time in 12 years, announced the results of the competition and held an awards ceremony on the morning of the 2nd (Japan time), and Japan won the bronze prize. This is the third time in 30 years that a Japanese team has won an award, since Nihonbashi Marutamaya (Tokyo) won the bronze prize at the 10th festival in 1994.

This is a pioneering event that synchronizes fireworks with music, and six countries participated in the competitive section, which began in Japan on the 4th of last month (local time) and continued until the 1st of this month. France won the gold prize, Canada the silver prize, and Japan also won the special eco prize.

Kentaro Saito, president of Hibikiya Omagari Fireworks, who attended the awards ceremony on behalf of the executive committee, reported over an international phone call that “While Japanese fireworks were praised for the high quality of each and every shot, it was also a lesson in terms of how well-received they are overseas.”

Tadanobu Komatsu, vice chairman of the executive committee, who held a press conference while watching a video of the award ceremony, analyzed the results, saying, “Although there were some issues with adjusting the launch equipment because it was procured locally, we were able to demonstrate Japanese skills, such as using the 130cm fireworks. I think the Eco Special Award was given in recognition of the lack of smoke.”

Mayor Oimatsu Hiroyuki said, “I was also on site to promote Daisen City at the launch, and winning the bronze award will help us to further promote Omagari’s fireworks.”

The executive committee will present a condensed version of the Montreal display at the 96th National Fireworks Competition (Omagari Fireworks) on August 31st, as fireworks provided by the festival (organizers).