〜Teamed up with creative director Kenji Kobashi to launch “REDCLIFF COUNTDOWN DRONE SHOW 2025,” a drone show project at Kobe Illuminage.〜
The “REDCLIFF COUNTDOWN DRONE SHOW 2025,” a drone show project sponsored by Red Cliff, will be held for the first time from December 31, 2024 (Tuesday) to January 1, 2025 (Wednesday, national holiday) in collaboration with the “Kobe Illuminage” in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. The show will be held for the first time.
The project will celebrate the start of the New Year in spectacular fashion, with Japan’s largest*1 fleet of 2,025 drones brightly decorating the night sky. The drone show will consist of two parts, the second part of which will be directed by creative director Kenji Kobashi to deliver an entertainment in the sky full of surprises and excitement.
First countdown event with 2025 aircraft, the largest in Japan
Red Cliff has been in the business of planning and operating drone shows since 2021. In 2024, it held a countdown drone show at Katsuo-ji Temple and a drone show at sea on New Year’s Day. Since then, the company has successfully conducted test flights of 1,500 drones (March), the largest scale (2) for a Japanese company at that time (3), Japan’s first (4) successful test flight of a drone show using fireworks-equipped drones (May), Japan’s largest scale (5) demonstration of a drone show with 3,000 drones (August), and in Shenzhen, China. Together with High Great Innovation (深圳市高巨创新科技开发有限公司, English name: High Great Innovation Technology Development Co.,Ltd), we broke the Guinness World Record™ for the “size of display” depicted by a drone show with 7998 aircraft (September), and many other Challenges and accomplishments were achieved.
REDCLIFF COUNTDOWN DRONE SHOW 2025” is Redcliffe’s first drone show project, and is a new light festival realized in collaboration with ‘Kobe Illuminage Countdown NEW YEAR Festival 2024-2025’. It is a new festival of light realized in collaboration with the Kobe Illuminage Countdown NEW YEAR Festival 2024-2025.
To celebrate the New Year, we will be taking on the challenge of Japan’s largest*1 drone show with 2025 drones. This will exceed the 1,824 drones used for the opening ceremony of the 2021 international sporting event in Tokyo, and is the culmination of Red Cliff’s past experience and a challenge that will further advance drone show technology in Japan.
In addition to the countdown drone show, the day will also include a production using a drone equipped with fireworks, which has been the talk of the town this year, and a variety of other concept drone shows after 9:00 pm. More details will be announced soon. Please stay tuned.
2024-2025 Countdown Drone Show based on the concept of “Wings to the Future
The 2024-2025 Countdown Drone Show, directed by creative director Kenji Kobashi, will be held under the theme of “Wings to the Future. 2025 drones will soar magnificently in the night sky, delivering a spectacular performance to celebrate the coming of a new year. The performance will be performed by 2,025 drones soaring in the night sky.
Comments from Kenji Kobashi, Creative Director
「MESSAGE: Wings for the Future
(MESSAGE: Wings for the Future)
The New Year dawns, a time when everyone’s hearts are filled with excitement.
Wings of light soaring in the night sky deliver hope for a new era, the year 2025. This countdown drone show, under the theme of “Wings to the Future,” invites you on a journey to explore new truths with Japan’s first and largest drone show of 2025 aircraft. Having been given wings of light, we will take off into the unknown future.
On that journey, we encounter the stars and beings beyond time and space, and what we receive are messages that illuminate our path to the future. These messages tell us of hopes, dreams, and the path we ourselves must take. We hope you will feel the wings of the future and take a step forward on a new journey through the stories depicted in the sky on this night!」
【Profile of Kenji Kobashi】
Kenji Kobashi / Creative Director
Born in Tokyo in 1979, Kenji Kobashi debuted as an actor in 1988 and appeared in many popular TV dramas before taking a break from show business in 2007 to travel the world. After returning to Japan, he served as creative director of “ULTRA JAPAN” and general producer of “STAR ISLAND”, which were successful both in Japan and abroad. In 2021, he was the show director for the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and he will be the event planner and producer for the 2025 Japan International Expo (Osaka/Kansai Expo). He was also appointed as a producer for the 2025 Japan International Expo (Expo ’70 Osaka-Kansai). In addition, he has been involved in regional development and urban development, always providing new value to the times.
Comments by Komei Sasaki, Representative Director of Red Cliff, Inc.
The drone show project “REDCLIFF COUNTDOWN DRONE SHOW 2025,” to be held from the end of 2024 to the first day of 2025, will be our first in-house organized event. This challenge will be a new stage that brings together the technology and creativity we have cultivated to date to deliver entertainment in the sky that is full of surprises and excitement. We hope to create a special moment to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one with you.
We are truly looking forward to embarking on this new journey called 2025 with you through the skies. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to all those involved in making this project a reality. We will do our utmost to deliver an experience that exceeds your expectations.”
*1…As of November 27, 2024, according to our own research
*2…As of March 2024, according to our own research.
*3…As of May 28, 2024, based on our own research
*4…As of September 2, 2024, based on our own research
Outline of “REDCLIFF COUNTDOWN DRONE SHOW 2025
- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 31, 2024, 21:00 – tentative (*)
- Location: Roadside Station, Kobe Fruit and Flower Park Osawa (2150 Kami-Osawa, Osawa-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture)
- Sponsor : Red Cliff Co.
- Direction : Kenji Kobashi (Part 2)
※…Please note that the show time is subject to change without notice. Also, depending on the weather conditions on the day of the event, the drone show may be cancelled in order to ensure safety first. Please check the official X’s Red Cliff account (https://x.com/redcliff_drone) for the latest information on whether or not the event will be held due to weather conditions.
Outline of “Kobe Illuminage Countdown NEW YEAR Festival 2024-2025
- Date : Tuesday, December 31, 2024
- Opening hours: 21:00 – 26:00 (admission starts at 21:00)
- Location: Roadside Station, Kobe Fruit and Flower Park Osawa (2150 Kami-Osawa, Osawa-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture)
- Admission Fee:
Countdown Ticket: Adult 8,000 yen / Child 4,000 yen / Pet 500 yen
Countdown Ticket + Live Music: Adult 15,000 yen / Child 10,000 yen / No pet allowed
Infants under 1 year old are free of charge.
Tickets: Available at the following URL
https://www.asoview.com/channel/tickets/VCWWwuPJah/
Kobe Illuminage Outline
Sponsor : Japan Illumination Association
Supported by ：Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, Kobe Convention & Visitors Bureau, Sanda City, Japan Association for the 2025 Japan International Exposition
Cooperation ：Kobe Agricultural Foundation, CAHI Hotel & Resort Co.
Inquiries : Illuminations Secretariat
Phone : 06-6452-6452
Email ：mail@illuminagegroup.com
Instagram ：@OFFICIAL_ILLUMINAGEGROUP
URL ：https://illuminagegroup.com/