Japanese fireworks light up massive US fireworks festival

Japanese fireworks light up massive US fireworks festival

Fireworks from Japan's Akita Prefecture have lit up one of the largest fireworks festivals in the United States to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of country.

The event was held on Sunday night along a river flowing between the US states of Ohio and Kentucky.

It is the 50th time the festival has been held and more than 15,000 fireworks were launched.

About 500 of them were exported by a fireworks company in Daisen City in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Akita, which is known for the Omagari fireworks competition.

Fireworks featuring special Japanese technologies drew cheers from a large crowd of spectators on the both sides of the river.

Exports of fireworks from Japan to the US were almost halted at one point and it was reportedly the first time in about 40 years that they were used at the event.

The Ohio company, Rozzi Fireworks, was in charge of the launch. Its president, Nancy Rozzi, worked on sourcing fireworks from Akita for two years. She visited Akita Prefecture multiple times.

After the event she said the Japanese fireworks were magnificent. She said they were so beautiful that she would like to see only Japanese fireworks. Rozzi says she hopes the collaboration will continue.