Japan Drone Show Creativity Awards Highlight Innovation, Culture, and Social Impact Across the Country
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb
This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.
The Japan Drone Show Society recently announced the conclusion of Japan’s first drone show contest, an important step for the development of the domestic drone show industry and a sign of the growing popularity of drone shows across Asia and the world. The “Japan Drone Show Creativity Awards” focused on highlighting the most innovative and imaginative drone displays and featured several categories designed to highlight different aspects of a highly successful drone show.
The winner of the award for largest drone show was RedCliff Ltd. for their new year’s display at Flower Park Osawa Roadside Station, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, which featured over 2000 individual drones over an eager crowd of onlookers.
Redcliff also won the award for Entertainment with its Star Island display held at the Mizuho PayPay Dome, which used over 1,000 drones integrated organically with fireworks displays and other light sources, and the award for advertising for its innovative partnership with Coca-Cola Japan over Kobe.
The award for Regional and Urban Revitalization, focusing on shows that displayed the local culture of where they were held, went to Nordrohn Drone Show’s Kamishibiro Christmas Drone Show, which highlighted Japan’s “Hometown Tax Donation” policy, which allows urban residents to donate some of their tax load to rural communities in need. Over 500 drones were used to highlight the local attractions in the rural Hokkaido community, whose mascot is an anthropomorphic hot air balloon named Horon-chan. Drone shows have become a yearly, expected event in the region that continues to draw tourists and locals alike.
Finally, the award for socially aware art went to Redcliff for their Firebird show in Osaka City. The show used drones equipped with fireworks to create a unique visible image of the Phoenix while also highlighting the advancements in drone show technology. Other honored shows included attempts to raise awareness for breast cancer and World Hemophilia Day.
More information on the awards is available here (in Japanese)
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