*Images are for illustrative purposes only.
– Co-created with fireworks to bring Earth’s wildlife to life in the night sky, featuring a magnificent swimming whale –
Redcliff Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Komei Sasaki; hereinafter “Redcliff”), a leading drone show planning and operating company, will perform a 600-drone light show at the 71st Toride Tonegawa Fireworks Festival in Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
This marks the fourth consecutive year since 2023 that Redcliff has been selected to produce the drone show for this festival. Presenting a two-part performance during the opening and mid-program segments, Redcliff will illuminate the night sky over Toride with large-scale light animations.
Opening Drone Show Sets the Stage for the Fireworks Festival
Scheduled to begin around 6:54 PM, the opening drone show will feature dynamic light formations, where words seamlessly appear and vanish across the night sky in sync with music.
In addition to interactive animations that bring the audience together, the performance will showcase light displays paying tribute to the pyrotechnicians (fireworks companies) who bring the 71st Toride Tonegawa Fireworks Festival to life.
Designed to build anticipation for the spectacles ahead, this grand opening will ignite the excitement of the entire crowd.
600 Drones Portray Wildlife as a Massive Whale Swims the Night Sky
Scheduled to begin around 7:50 PM, Part 2 of the performance will represent various creatures from Earth through vibrant, color-rich animations.
One of the most iconic scenes will feature a massive whale swimming elegantly across the heavens. The 600 drones will move with intricate precision, dynamic depicting the vibrancy and vitality of these living beings.
The stage for this performance is a massive celestial canvas spanning approximately 180 meters high and 180 meters wide. Utilizing this vast space, glowing creatures of diverse colors will soar through the darkness, creating a spectacular show of grand scale.
The definitive highlight is the collaborative display where the drone show and fireworks simultaneously illuminate the same night sky. The intricate light animation of the drones merges with the forceful light and sound of the fireworks, creating a one-of-a-kind, spectacular sight.
Redcliff remains committed to fusing the unique expressive power of drone shows with local culture and character, generating memorable entertainment experiences for audiences worldwide.
Event Overview: 71st Toride Tonegawa Fireworks Festival
- Event Name: 71st Toride Tonegawa Fireworks Festival
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 8, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:20 PM
*In case of severe weather, the event will be postponed to Sunday, August 9. - Venue: Toride Ryokuchi Sports Park (Toride 1-chome, Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture)
- Organizer: Toride City Tourist Association
- Supporters: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tonegawa Lower River Office, Toride Construction Association, Toride Electrical Contractors Association, Toride Sewerage Association, Toride Food Hygiene Association, Real Estate Transaction Association Kennan Branch, Mainichi Shimbun, Sports Nippon Newspapers, Ibaraki Kennan Mainichi-kai, Toride Society of Commerce and Industry, Toride City
- Drone Show Operator: Redcliff Inc.
- Number of Drones: 600 units
- Scheduled Drone Show Times:
- Opening Drone Show: Approx. 6:54 PM
- Part 2 Drone Show: Approx. 7:50 PM
Disclaimers:
*Performance details and scheduled times are subject to change depending on event progress and weather conditions on the day.
*In the event of adverse weather, the drone show may be canceled or postponed to the following day with safety as the top priority. For the latest official updates on event status, please visit the Toride City Tourist Association website (https://toride-kankou.net/).
