The show starts around 5:45 p.m. About 20,000 fireworks follow.
If you plan to catch the Konosu Fireworks Festival this weekend, get there early this year. On Saturday, October 10, 2026, the 23rd edition of the festival (燃えよ！商工会青年部!! 第23回こうのす花火大会) adds a 900-drone show before the fireworks. The drones take off around 5:45 p.m. and fly for about 15 minutes. About 20,000 fireworks come after that, and a Blue Impulse flyover is also on the program.
Key facts at a glance
| Event | 23rd Konosu Fireworks Festival (Norton-sponsored Special Drone Show) |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 10, 2026 |
| Drone show | From about 5:45 p.m. for roughly 15 minutes |
| Drones | 900 |
| Fireworks | About 20,000, including a yonshakudama shell |
| Venue | Nukata Sports Ground and the Arakawa riverbank, Konosu, Saitama |
| Organizer | Konosu Chamber of Commerce Youth Division |
| Rain policy | Canceled in stormy weather, no rain date |
The festival is organized by the Konosu Chamber of Commerce Youth Division, a group of local shop owners, business owners and successors to family businesses. It is run by volunteers, mostly Youth Division members, and it draws more than 600,000 people every year, so expect big crowds along the river. The announcement doesn’t cover admission, paid seating or access, so check those on the official site.
If you’re planning other autumn outings, our guide to where to watch the Setagaya Tamagawa Fireworks and get home covers another riverside display, and the Asoview Asobitsukushi campaign takes money off tickets to leisure spots.
The evening program, in order
Three things happen in the sky over Konosu, in this order:
| Blue Impulse flyover | An Air Self-Defense Force display flight, held for the Youth Division’s 60th anniversary. The time isn’t in the announcement. |
|---|---|
| 900-drone show | Around 5:45 p.m., about 15 minutes |
| Fireworks | After the drone show. About 20,000 shots, including a yonshakudama |
A yonshakudama (四尺玉) is a four-shaku shell, one of the largest single fireworks you can see in Japan. If you want both the drones and the fireworks, you need to be in place before 5:45 p.m.
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What the 900 drones will draw
The show runs in two halves, each with its own theme.
First half: Konosu’s story, told in light. The theme is “Light Weaves the Story of Konosu: nurturing life, carrying on tradition, taking flight into the future.” The drones will draw local scenes:
- The Arakawa River. the stretch between Konosu and neighboring Yoshimi is 2,537 m wide, the widest river in Japan (source: Konosu City official website).
- The cosmos flowers that cover the Arakawa riverbank.
- The pyramid-shaped hina doll display, the symbol of the Konosu Bikkuri Hina Matsuri.
- Akamono, a traditional local craft passed down in Konosu.
Second half: Norton. The show’s sponsor is Norton, and the second half features Norton-related motifs.
Who is behind the show
The concept and direction are by Shin-ichi Kudo, who has worked with REDCLIFF many times. He has made more than 500 titles across commercials, music videos, film, TV, stage and concerts, and has won awards at home and abroad, including at New York Festivals and the MTV Video Music Awards. His work on Yumi Matsutoya’s 50th-anniversary project earned an award of excellence at the VFX-JAPAN AWARD, and in September 2026 his Netflix series Downtime began streaming worldwide.
In his comment, Kudo lists the river, the autumn cosmos, the oriental stork as a symbol of living with nature, the Konosu hina dolls with about 400 years of history, and akamono. He says the show carries a wish for children’s healthy growth and for family happiness, and hopes people will look up at the same sky with someone they care about.
| Concept & direction | Shin-ichi Kudo |
|---|---|
| Production | REDCLIFF, Inc. |
| Operation | REDCLIFF, Inc. and Drone School Shimonoseki (A-commerce Inc.) |
| Organizer | Konosu Chamber of Commerce Youth Division |
REDCLIFF, based in Minato, Tokyo, plans and runs drone shows. At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, it flew 3,000 drones on the closing day. You can follow its shows on X, Instagram and YouTube.
Weather and timing caveats
- Start times may move earlier or later depending on how the day runs.
- In stormy weather the festival is canceled. It will not be held on another day.
- If the weather makes drone flight difficult, the drone show may be canceled or partly changed, even if the fireworks go ahead.
For admission, seating, access and same-day updates, check the official festival page. The original announcement is on PR TIMES (in Japanese).
FAQ
- What time does the Konosu drone show start?
- Around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, and it runs for about 15 minutes. The time may shift with the day’s schedule.
- Will the Konosu Fireworks Festival be postponed if it rains?
- No. In stormy weather the festival is canceled and there is no rain date. The drone show alone may also be canceled or changed if conditions make flying difficult.
- How many fireworks are there?
- About 20,000, including a yonshakudama (four-shaku shell). They are launched after the drone show.
- When does Blue Impulse fly?
- A Blue Impulse flyover is scheduled to mark the Youth Division’s 60th anniversary, but the announcement doesn’t give a time. Check the official festival site.
- Is admission free, and are there paid seats?
- The announcement doesn’t cover admission, seating or access. Check the official festival site before you go.
Information as of October 9, 2026, based on the announcement by REDCLIFF, Inc. Details may change; the official festival site has the final word.