Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition土浦全国花火競技大会

A fireworks competition in which pyrotechnicians from across Japan compete for the nation's top honor, in three categories: star mine, 10-go shells and creative fireworks.

Begun at the end of the Taishō era to honor the fallen and revive the local economy, it is now an autumn competition where Japan's pyrotechnicians test their skills.

In 1925 (Taishō 14), Akimoto Baihō, the 24th head priest of Shinryū-ji temple in Bunkyō-chō, Tsuchiura, started the event to honor personnel of the Kasumigaura Naval Air Group who died on duty and to revitalize Tsuchiura's economy, exhausted by the recession after the Great Kantō Earthquake. After an interruption during World War II, it resumed in September 1946 as the 14th competition. Since 2000, the Prime Minister's Prize has been awarded to the most outstanding pyrotechnician among the winners of the three categories.

Source: 土浦全国花火競技大会実行委員会(external site, opens in a new tab)

The competition aims to present works entered by fireworks makers from across Japan for the public to enjoy, while advancing the makers' technical skill.

Source: 土浦全国花火競技大会実行委員会(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 01

   Star mine category

   One of the three competition categories.

2. 02

   10-go shell category

   One of the three competition categories.

3. 03

   Creative fireworks category

   One of the three competition categories.

4. 04

   Prime Minister's Prize

   Since 2000, awarded to the most outstanding pyrotechnician among the three category winners, recognized for advancing fireworks technique and moving the audience.

Fireworks makers from across Japan enter works and pyrotechnicians compete for the top honor; the side program includes a 'pyrotechnicians' appearance'.

• Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition【公式】第95回土浦全国花火競技大会　ライブ配信

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The 2026 (95th) competition starts at 5:30 p.m. and is scheduled to end at 8:00 p.m.; in severe weather it will be postponed to Saturday, November 14.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

Official website — tsuchiura-hanabi.jp(external site, opens in a new tab)

• The entire venue is non-smoking, with no smoking area
• No photography from aisles or anywhere other than seats
• Even from your seat, do not shoot above your own seated head height
• Be considerate and avoid disturbing other spectators

1. 1.土浦全国花火競技大会 公式サイト(external site, opens in a new tab)土浦全国花火競技大会実行委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
2. 2.大会概要(external site, opens in a new tab)土浦全国花火競技大会実行委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
3. 3.大会の歴史(external site, opens in a new tab)土浦全国花火競技大会実行委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26
4. 4.マナーについて(external site, opens in a new tab)土浦全国花火競技大会実行委員会 · Accessed 2026-09-26

• 

  Star mine and chrysanthemum shells fill the sky at the 78th Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition

  Photographer

  inoc from Japan

  Source

  Tsuchiura Fireworks Competition 2009 a.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY 2.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A star mine display at the Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition

  Photographer

  河田 貫成

  Source

  Tsuchiura Fireworks 2014.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY-SA 4.0(external site, opens in a new tab)

• 

  A single chrysanthemum shell opens at the Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition

  Photographer

  inoc from Japan

  Source

  Tsuchiura Fireworks Competition 2009 b.jpg(external site, opens in a new tab)

  Licence

  CC BY 2.0(external site, opens in a new tab)