On October 10, 2026, the inaugural "Maizuru Fireworks Festival" was held at Pier 3 of Maizuru Port in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture. Approximately 6,000 fireworks illuminated the autumn night sky, delighting the attendees.
The event was organized by the executive committee behind the outdoor music festival "MAIZURU PLAY BACK FES." Having hosted the music festival for the past four years with the goal of "energizing the city through music," the organizers used the proceeds from the festival to fund the fireworks display.
As fireworks of various colors lit up the sky—synchronized with music from artists who performed at the festival, such as UVERworld and Creepy Nuts, as well as footage from past events—the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. The venue also featured food trucks, various food and drink stalls, traditional *taiko* drumming performances, and classic festival games like goldfish scooping and target shooting.
The name "PLAY BACK" for the music festival carries connotations of "reunion" and "rebirth"—themes that also resonate with the history of Maizuru, which served as a major port for the repatriation of Japanese citizens following World War II. The executive committee chose to hold the fireworks festival during this period, noting that they have traditionally announced the dates for the next music festival on October 7—known as "Maizuru Repatriation Day."
During the grand finale of the fireworks display, it was announced that the music festival would return on April 25, 2027. Executive Committee Chair Takanori Kanemura (48 years old) expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I want to share the joy of festivals with children and create a reason for people to gather in Maizuru. My hope is to establish the 'PLAY BACK' festival in the spring and the fireworks festival in the autumn as regular, recurring events."
