1995 Saga International Balloon Fiesta

The 12th Pacific Cup and the 6th Ladies World Cup were held in Saga, Japan November 22-26, 1995. Every morning and afternoon, pilots, crews, observers and officials, as well as thousands of spectators, gathered on the banks of the Kase River. Competitors were from the U.S., Japan, United Kingdom, Hungary, Australia, Sweden, Germany, China, Poland, New Zealand, Argentina, Korea, Hong Kong and the Philippines. The weather was fairly cooperative, with ten tasks flown, but event director, Masahi Kakuda, was forced to cancel flights mid-week due to winds and rain.

Owen Keown of California captured first place in the Pacific Cup. He has enjoyed some wonderful success competing in 1995 and Saga was no exception. Japanese pilot, Hirotsugu Sakaguchi took second and Richard Parry of Hong Kong placed third.

Hungarian pilot, Nagy Katalin Bognarne won the Ladies World Cup, Norah Ormerod of the U.S. took second and Japanese pilot, Yasuko Usami was third.

The Fiesta had many parties for the pilots, crews, observers and officials to attend. The food is always delicious and plentiful and the hosts are most gracious. The parade was particularly fun this year as the weather was warm and main street was lined with many smiling Japanese faces. A German brought along his accordion and the locals really enjoyed the music he played during the parade.

This was my seventh consecutive time to be an observer in Saga. It is always an adventure to visit Japan. Saga, which is located on Kyushu, the southernmost of the four Japanese islands, is blessed with mild climate and fertile plains. Most of the rice consumed in Japan is grown around the Saga Prefecture. The rice is usually harvested by the time the annual balloon event takes place, so there are many landing sites. The farmers and their families are always very friendly, often offering balloonists hot tea and fruit upon their return to mother earth. The children are very excited to meet the foreigners and often ask for their autographs. When I asked first time observer to Saga, Paul Hiffmeyer of Las Angeles, what his impression of Saga was, he replied, "I’m amazed how clean it is and there is no graffiti." He then added, "I almost feel guilty spray painting an intersection."

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