75th Ayu Festival

Summary

Cancelled: the 75th Ayu Matsuri on the Midori River in Kosa Town - newly rescheduled from late July to October 18, 2026 as a heat-countermeasure - was called off after the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, the town announced. The festival had long paired children's sweetfish-catching events and stage shows with a finale of about 3,000 shells over the riverbed. Recovery updates and future plans are posted on the official page.

Overview

The town cites severe earthquake damage within Kosa as the reason for cancellation. The Ayu Matsuri has symbolized the town's summer alongside the clear Midori River, and it had been widely reported that - with recent extreme heat in mind - the festival would move to October from 2026 to prioritize visitor safety. The fireworks were slated for a 30-minute run from around 18:00 over the riverbed near Nako-bashi Green Park. For recovery status and the festival's future, follow the Kosa Town Tourism Association (based in the town office) and the official page. Note that Yatsushiro's national fireworks competition elsewhere in Kumamoto was also cancelled after the same earthquake, so travelers building a Kumamoto fireworks itinerary will need to rework their plans.

Details

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