The Sukagawa City Shakado Fireworks Festival, attended by more than 300,000 people, is the largest in the prefecture. With an unusual display of over 10,000 pyrotechnics, it is a standout for fireworks fans in the Tohoku region . Unlike many of Japan’s big fireworks festivals, the Fukushima one has a relatively short history.
The festival has steadily grown in size since its debut in 1978. Within a decade, it garnered the support of several local organizations. At the turn of the century, Sukagawa City absorbed a number of neighboring municipalities, which led to a greater pool of local fireworks operators participating in the annual event.
This momentum accumulated over the years and especially shone through in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Residents devastated by the tragedy pushed for the festival to be held, and the city held a revitalized event that called for the reconstruction of the prefecture. Photo by: PIXTA/ なんとなくね One of the biggest fireworks festivals in Fukushima Before the festival starts, at 6:40 p.
m., a mini-fireworks show dedicated to the memory of loved ones will be held. This small gesture reminds us of how central the local community is to the event.
The main show lasts just over an hour and has a variety of acts. As in other fireworks festivals, this one has displays set to music. However, one unique addition in Sukagawa is the use of student choirs from nearby junior high schools and high schools.
One of the most renowned fireworks production companies that participates in the festival is Itoi Kiko, established in 1873 in Sukagawa. Awarded the honor of Technician of the Year by the city government, Itoi Kiko brings its signature combination of dazzling pyrotechnics set to music year after year. For many spectators, the highlight of the show is the use of No.
10 fireworks. These are some of the largest ones deployed in Japan and fire about 300 meters into the air before exploding to a total diameter of around 280 meters. Named after the famous Niagara Falls, another crowd-pleaser is the Niagara fireworks, which are a series of long firing mechanisms that produce a waterfall of bursts.
Photo by: PIXTA/ yabe51 Buy a ticket to get the best seats in the house. All official viewing areas require a ticket. They include concert-style rows of individual chairs and tables for groups of four.
Four large seating areas provide different angles of the action..
