Katakai Matsuri

What Is Katakai Matsuri?

September 9th and 10th are the days of "Katakai Matsuri," the popular name for the autumn festival of Asahara Shrine in the Katakai neighborhood of Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture. It's one of Japan's premier fireworks festivals, nationally famous for launching the "yonshakudama," one of the largest fireworks shells in the world.

A Fireworks Town That Gave Birth to the World-Famous "Yonshakudama"

Katakai Matsuri is far more than a simple fireworks display -- it has continued as a Shinto ritual, an offering dedicated to the shrine.

• The scale of the yonshakudama: roughly 90 centimeters in diameter and about 420 kilograms, the "shoyonshakudama" is one of the largest fireworks shells in the world, listed in the Guinness World Records
• Japan's first records: Katakai is known as the town that first succeeded in launching both the "shosanshakudama" and "shoyonshakudama" shells in Japan
• The "midday shosanshakudama": a highlight unique to Katakai Matsuri, this daytime firework reveals its beauty not through color and light but through the shapes formed by its smoke against the sky

The Spirit of Offering and Prayer Behind Every Single Shell

The fireworks of Katakai Matsuri aren't simply launched for entertainment -- they continue as "hono enka," offerings dedicated to Asahara Shrine by individuals and families in gratitude for life's milestones, each one carrying a personal wish. Every single shell carries the feelings of the local community.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Watch videos or photos of Katakai Matsuri's yonshakudama and daytime fireworks
• Learn about the history of Asahara Shrine and Katakai Matsuri
• Visit Katakai in Ojiya City in person to see the fireworks, if you have the chance
• Learn about the culture of dedicated fireworks offerings found across Japan

A Community's Prayers, Held Within a Single Great Shell Rising Into the Night Sky

The moment the world's largest fireworks shell lights up the night sky carries far more than sheer spectacle -- it holds the prayers and bonds of the people who live there. Let September 9th and 10th be a chance to reflect on the story behind this magnificent fireworks display, delivered from the town of Katakai.