– A Special Show Featuring 500 Lights, Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the New City’s Establishment –
Red Cliff Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Komei Sasaki; hereinafter “Red Cliff”), a company specializing in the planning and operation of drone shows, will execute a 500-drone show—the first ever held in Karatsu City—at the “Autumn Carnival” hosted by Boat Race Karatsu in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
Karatsu City’s First Drone Show: A New Initiative to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the New City’s Establishment
The “Autumn Carnival” is an annual event held by Boat Race Karatsu every autumn, featuring numerous activities for families, including stage performances and food vendors. To celebrate the milestone of the 20th anniversary of the new city’s establishment, Boat Race Karatsu decided to host Karatsu City’s first drone show, driven by the desire to “deliver an unprecedented emotional experience to its citizens.”
A Story of Light Featuring 500 Aircraft, Depicting Karatsu’s Charm in the Sky
Red Cliff, the leading domestic drone show company, will be responsible for the direction and operation of this show, led by director Shinichi Kudo. The fantastical 10-minute show, where music and light intertwine, is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM.
In the first half, the show will express the charm of the city through light art, utilizing motifs such as the thrilling world of boat racing, the symbol of Karatsu, “Karatsu Castle,” and the autumn tradition, “Karatsu Kunchi.” In the second half, the night sky will be illuminated with performances that can be enjoyed by both children and adults, incorporating popular animations that Red Cliff has presented nationwide.
Moving forward, Red Cliff will continue to transform local culture and aspirations into “light,” creating entertainment staged in the night sky that shares emotion across Japan.
Comment from Director Shinichi Kudo
“Given that I previously directed the Boat Race commercial series featuring Naomi Watanabe and Sumire, I was thrilled when I heard I would have the opportunity to direct a drone show production at a Boat Race venue.
For this show, we are challenging ourselves with a cinematic approach, utilizing the Flash Module to create imagery inspired by motifs like the splash of water and the ‘Monkey Turn’ maneuver.
Furthermore, please pay close attention to the expressions fusing local traditions with technology, such as the ‘Sea Bream’ (Tai) float from the Karatsu Kunchi festival and the ‘Squid Guruguru’ from the Yobuko Morning Market.”
Director Profile: Shin-ichi Kudo
Kudo handles planning, direction, and production across a wide range of fields, including commercials, music videos, TV dramas, stage productions, and concerts. After studying art direction in London, he planned and directed the 2017 film Jounetsu no Bara (Rose of Passion) (starring Masatoshi Nagase and Kiko Mizuhara), which was officially screened at film festivals in 12 cities worldwide.
He has worked on over 500 projects and has received numerous awards, including the New York Festivals and the MTV Video Music Awards. For Yumi Matsutoya’s 50th Anniversary Project, his plan to recreate Yumi Arai using AI garnered significant attention and won the VFX-JAPAN AWARD Excellence Award. He also planned and produced the VR horror film Ouchi ni Ikō (Let’s Go Home) (directed by Takashi Shimizu and Yoshihiro Nishimura), which became the first Japanese film to receive permanent screening in Las Vegas. He continues to create emotionally resonant works with his unique sensibility and meticulous aesthetic.
Boat Race Karatsu Autumn Carnival Drone Show Event Outline
Date and Time: November 23 (Sun), 2025, 18:00 – 18:10. (* Subject to postponement until the following day due to weather.)
Location: Boat Race Karatsu Venue (1116 Hara, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture)
Admission Fee: Free
Drone Show Operation: Red Cliff Co., Ltd.
Direction: Shinichi Kudo
Official Website: https://www.boatrace-karatsu.jp/modules/news/?page=index_event
