©️Redcliff Inc
– 1,300 Drones Merge with Fireworks and Lasers to Mark the Grand Opening of the 40th Anniversary Festival –
Redcliff Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Komei Sasaki; hereinafter “Redcliff”), a leading drone show planning and operating company, will manage the first-ever drone light show at the “2026 Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival” in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Featuring a massive fleet of 1,300 drones, this debut performance marks a landmark highlight for the festival’s official organizers, the Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival Executive Committee.
Marking its 40th anniversary, this year’s festival will introduce a two-part format for the very first time, featuring distinct creative directions under the overall theme of “Sengoku Discovery Shiga & Lake Biwa: Summer Campaign.”
Redcliff will be responsible for the drone light show in Part 1: “Mother Lake, Overlapping Lights” , creating a breathtaking aerial visual spectacle to kick off the event.
Lake Biwa’s First-Ever Drone Show: Illumination of Local Heritage Across the Night Sky
In Part 1: “Mother Lake, Overlapping Lights” (7:30 PM – 7:45 PM), 1,300 drones will seamlessly sync with fireworks and laser beams to depict the natural beauty of Lake Biwa and a vision for the future across the night sky.
The drone show will unfold in three distinct acts: “Local Heritage,” “Mother Lake Biwa,” and “From Past to Future.” Incorporating Shiga Prefecture’s rich natural landscapes and tourism assets alongside characters beloved by children, the performance is designed to captivate audiences of all generations and nationalities.
Renowned director Yuta Hori will lead the drone show’s creative direction. Built upon the foundation of Shiga Prefecture’s “Shigarhythm” tourism concept, the choreography prioritizes narrative depth and musical harmony, leveraging cutting-edge drone technology to celebrate Lake Biwa’s unique charm and the festival’s historic 40th anniversary.
Comment from Show Director Yuta Hori
“Centering on the world of ‘Shigarhythm,’ I envisioned this 40th-anniversary milestone as a unified narrative. Rather than having the fireworks and drones compete, my focus was on creating a single cohesive canvas where both elements blend harmoniously into a shared nighttime landscape—pushing the boundaries of what drone light shows can express. I hope everyone enjoys this one-night-only performance where light and sound come together in perfect sync.”
Profile: Yuta Hori
Show Director
In 2007, Yuta Hori became the first Japanese tap dancer to win the Chicago TAP Festival. He currently heads PORI design notes, specializing in spatial direction that seamlessly integrates a wide range of expressive mediums—including music, video, lasers, and pyrotechnics.
2026 Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival Event Overview
- Event Name: 2026 Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival
- Date & Time: Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM JST
- (Will proceed in light rain; canceled in the event of severe weather with no postponement)
- Venue: Lake Biwa Riverfront around Shiga Prefectural Otsu Port, Nagisa Park, etc.
- Access:
- ~15-minute walk from JR Biwako Line “Otsu Station”
- ~5-minute walk from Keihan Railway “Biwako-Hamaotsu Station”
- Program:
- Part 1: “Mother Lake, Overlapping Lights” (7:30 PM – 7:45 PM)Drone show, fireworks, laser beams, and synchronized music
- Part 2: Traditional Display (7:45 PM – 8:30 PM)Classic Lake Biwa fireworks featuring diagonal launches of large-caliber shells (Shakudama)
- Ticketing Information: d ticket Official Page
- Drone Show Operator: Redcliff Inc.
Disclaimers:
Drone operations may be canceled or partially modified in the event of adverse weather conditions or other safety considerations.
