Japan's Premier Fire Festival 'Art Fire Festival 2026' Concludes with Great Success at a Former School in Gunma! ~Highlight Video Released Featuring Top Performers and Three Days of Excitement~
Japan's premier fire festival, 'Art Fire Festival 2026,' concluded successfully at a former school in Gunma, bringing together top fire performers from across the nation. An official highlight video capturing three days of intense excitement has been released today.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 20:01
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The fire festival "Art Fire Festival 2026," where top-class fire performers from all over Japan gathered, was held for three days from April 24th (Friday) to 26th (Sunday), 2026, at "Tomareru Gakko Saru Sho," a former school in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, and concluded with great success.
The executive committee has today released an "Official Highlight Video" that condenses the overwhelming energy and excitement of this event.
## Top Performers Gather! A Passionate Show that Scorches the Night at a Former School
"Art Fire Festival" is Japan's largest fire performance festival, bringing together professionals active on the front lines and up-and-coming performers who will lead the next generation.
This year's stage was "Tomareru Gakko Saru Sho," a former school surrounded by abundant nature in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture. Against the backdrop of the wooden school building at nightfall, fantastic performances were unfolded where traces of fire colored the night sky.
On the main stage, a luxurious lineup of artists including Raikouenbu Kagutsuchi, Kanta, Hitsuketozoku, Dai Zaobab, Hirokawa-ya, YUKI, and Jonasun performed together. The venue was filled with great cheers and excitement for their dynamic grand techniques and breathtakingly beautiful fire dances.
## Daytime for Technical Development. Workshops by Leading Experts
In contrast to the passionate shows at night, various workshops (WS) were held on the grounds and in the gymnasium.
Leading experts in each genre served as instructors, providing practical lectures ranging from how to handle tools to advanced techniques, tool making, maintenance training, and basic safety management. Participants absorbed the techniques with serious eyes, and the event greatly盛り上がりました as a place for interaction and skill improvement among performers.
## A Superb "Retreat" Experience Where Participants and Staff Became One
This festival is not just a showcase; it also has a special "retreat" aspect where performers, related parties, and general visitors stay overnight at the former school, eating and sleeping together.
Eating from the same pot and talking about fire late into the night. This intense time creates new connections among performers and serves as a driving force to further enhance the enthusiasm of the entire industry. The fact that the three days ended with smiles and no major accidents is a testament to the great cooperation of all participants.
## Comment from Organizer, Mr. Tomotsugu
Representative, Art Fire Festival Executive Committee / Tomotsugu
Once again, thank you all very much for participating! We are most delighted that everyone was able to finish the event safely and with smiles, without any major accidents.
This festival was held under the theme of "creating scenery beyond imagination." We were able to spend a rich, passionate, and supremely enjoyable time with all the performers and participants. I am confident that it was a highly satisfying three days for everyone.
This time, I had many shortcomings, and there were many instances where I caused trouble to the operating members and related parties due to lack of communication. I am deeply grateful to my best colleagues who supported my clumsy self on the front lines and made this festival a reality.
However, this enthusiasm does not end here. We intend to continue this "Art Fire Festival" for a long time to come. We will definitely leverage the lessons learned this time for the next event, and together we will create a spectacle that no one has ever seen before.
Please continue to support us in the future! Thank you very much!
## About "Art Fire Festival 2026"
This festival is a special event where top performers active on the front lines from all over Japan gather to widely convey their techniques and charm.
During the period, a total of 10 expert instructors will conduct a wide variety of workshops. We offer programs where beginners who are new to handling tools, as well as experienced participants aiming for further skill improvement, can learn broadly, from operating tools such as "Poi," "Staff," and "Mugen," to "Fire breathing," "Sword fighting using fire swords," and even "producing safe and highly functional specialized tools."
At night, powerful fire shows by top performers will be held, along with the opening of a fire area where participants can safely enjoy performances, and camping on the vast grounds, providing a rich entertainment experience in an extraordinary space surrounded by nature and nostalgic wooden school buildings.
Kagutsuchi Co., Ltd. will contribute to promoting the further potential and appeal of fire performance through this event, which unfolds in an extraordinary space embraced by nostalgic wooden school buildings and rich nature.
## 【Event Overview】
■Name: Art Fire Festival 2026
The executive committee has today released an "Official Highlight Video" that condenses the overwhelming energy and excitement of this event.
## Top Performers Gather! A Passionate Show that Scorches the Night at a Former School
"Art Fire Festival" is Japan's largest fire performance festival, bringing together professionals active on the front lines and up-and-coming performers who will lead the next generation.
This year's stage was "Tomareru Gakko Saru Sho," a former school surrounded by abundant nature in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture. Against the backdrop of the wooden school building at nightfall, fantastic performances were unfolded where traces of fire colored the night sky.
On the main stage, a luxurious lineup of artists including Raikouenbu Kagutsuchi, Kanta, Hitsuketozoku, Dai Zaobab, Hirokawa-ya, YUKI, and Jonasun performed together. The venue was filled with great cheers and excitement for their dynamic grand techniques and breathtakingly beautiful fire dances.
## Daytime for Technical Development. Workshops by Leading Experts
In contrast to the passionate shows at night, various workshops (WS) were held on the grounds and in the gymnasium.
Leading experts in each genre served as instructors, providing practical lectures ranging from how to handle tools to advanced techniques, tool making, maintenance training, and basic safety management. Participants absorbed the techniques with serious eyes, and the event greatly盛り上がりました as a place for interaction and skill improvement among performers.
## A Superb "Retreat" Experience Where Participants and Staff Became One
This festival is not just a showcase; it also has a special "retreat" aspect where performers, related parties, and general visitors stay overnight at the former school, eating and sleeping together.
Eating from the same pot and talking about fire late into the night. This intense time creates new connections among performers and serves as a driving force to further enhance the enthusiasm of the entire industry. The fact that the three days ended with smiles and no major accidents is a testament to the great cooperation of all participants.
## Comment from Organizer, Mr. Tomotsugu
Representative, Art Fire Festival Executive Committee / Tomotsugu
Once again, thank you all very much for participating! We are most delighted that everyone was able to finish the event safely and with smiles, without any major accidents.
This festival was held under the theme of "creating scenery beyond imagination." We were able to spend a rich, passionate, and supremely enjoyable time with all the performers and participants. I am confident that it was a highly satisfying three days for everyone.
This time, I had many shortcomings, and there were many instances where I caused trouble to the operating members and related parties due to lack of communication. I am deeply grateful to my best colleagues who supported my clumsy self on the front lines and made this festival a reality.
However, this enthusiasm does not end here. We intend to continue this "Art Fire Festival" for a long time to come. We will definitely leverage the lessons learned this time for the next event, and together we will create a spectacle that no one has ever seen before.
Please continue to support us in the future! Thank you very much!
## About "Art Fire Festival 2026"
This festival is a special event where top performers active on the front lines from all over Japan gather to widely convey their techniques and charm.
During the period, a total of 10 expert instructors will conduct a wide variety of workshops. We offer programs where beginners who are new to handling tools, as well as experienced participants aiming for further skill improvement, can learn broadly, from operating tools such as "Poi," "Staff," and "Mugen," to "Fire breathing," "Sword fighting using fire swords," and even "producing safe and highly functional specialized tools."
At night, powerful fire shows by top performers will be held, along with the opening of a fire area where participants can safely enjoy performances, and camping on the vast grounds, providing a rich entertainment experience in an extraordinary space surrounded by nature and nostalgic wooden school buildings.
Kagutsuchi Co., Ltd. will contribute to promoting the further potential and appeal of fire performance through this event, which unfolds in an extraordinary space embraced by nostalgic wooden school buildings and rich nature.
## 【Event Overview】
■Name: Art Fire Festival 2026