Pacific Cup
Since 1984, when the competition turned out to be called 'Saga International Balloon Fiesta', the trophy 'Pacific Cup' has been awarded to the person who made the highest rank. This Pacific Cup has been held every year except FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship in 1997 and 2016 and the pre competition for the world championship in 2015.
The main point of the competition used to be how Japanese pilots could get closer to veteran pilots from overseas. Recently, Japanese pilots stand dominating high ranking.
History of Pacific Cup and Successive Champions
| Time | Year | Balloons | Champion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1984 | 33 balloons (Overseas 10) |
 STARKBAUM Josef |
|
| 2nd | 1985 | 30 balloons (Overseas 10) |
 FELIU Tomas |
|
| 3rd | 1986 | 83 balloons (Overseas 30) |
 KEOWN Owen |
|
| 4th | 1987 | 58 balloons (Overseas 12) |
KEOWN Owen |
|
| 5th | 1988 | 82 balloons (Overseas 20) |
KEOWN Owen |
|
| 6th | 1989 | 23 balloos (Overseas 5) |
 TAKAMOTO Hirohisa |
Fiesta |
| 7th | 1990 | 82 balloons (Overseas 34) |
KEOWN Owen |
|
| 8th | 1991 | 98 balloons (Overseas 34) |
BAREFORD David |
|
| 9th | 1992 | 112 balloos (Overseas 40 / 16 countries) |
BAREFORD< David/td>
| |
| 10th | 1993 | 110 balloons (Overseas 34 / 15 countries) |
ASAOKA Yasuhiko |
|
| 11th | 1994 | 101 balloons (Overseas 33 / 14 countries) |
NISHIMURA Kazuhiko |
|
| 12th | 1995 | 100 balloons (Overseas 34 / 15 countries) |
KEOWN Owen |
|
| 13th | 1996 | 105 balloons (Overseas 39 / 15 countries) |
 SCHNEIDER Uwe |
|
| 14th | 1998 | 78 balloons (Overseas 21 / 10 countries) |
MASUMOTO Yoshihiro |
|
| 15th | 1999 | 100 balloons (Overseas 35 / 12 countries) |
 Csaba MOLNAR |
|
| 16th | 2000 | 89 balloons (Overseas 30 / 12 countries) |
FUJITA Masahiko |
|
| 17th | 2001 | 91 balloons (Overseas 34 / 18 countries) |
KEOWN Owen< |
|
| 18th | 2002 | 83 balloons (Overseas 28 / 12countries) |
KEOWN Owen< |
|
| 19th | 2003 | 77 balloons (Overseas 29 / 11 countries) |
KEOWN Owen |
|
| 20th | 2004 | 79 balloons (Overseas 28 / 12 countries) |
MIZUKAMI Takao |
|
| 21st | 2005 | 73 balloons (Overseas 24 / 13 countries) |
MIZUKAMI Takao |
|
| 22nd | 2006 | 83 balloons (Overseas 28 / 12 countries) |
MIZUKAMI Takao |
|
| 23rd | 2007 | 72 balloons (Overseas 19 / 11 countries) |
ZOLTAN Nemeth |
|
| 24th | 2008 | 62 baloons (Overseas 17 / 10 countries) |
FUJITA Yudai |
|
| 25th | 2009 | 63 balloons (Overseas 16 / 10 countries) |
KEOWN Owen |
|
| 26th | 2010 | 65 balloons (Overseas 18 / 11 countries) |
ISAKARI Kazuyasu |
|
| 27th | 2011 | 54 balloons (Overseas 17 / 12 countries) |
NEMETH Zoltan |
|
| 28th | 2012 | 58 balloons (Overseas 14 / 12 countries) |
FUJITA Yudai |
|
| 29th | 2013 | 61balloons (Overseas 16 / 12 countries) |
FUJITA Yudai |
|
| 30th | 2014 | 68 balloons (Overseas 28 / 13 countries) |
FUJITA Yudai |
|
| 31st | 2017 | 62 balloons (Overseas 23 / 14 countries) |
UEDA Satoshi |
|
| 32nd | 2018 | 67 balloons (Overseas 19 / 12 countries) |
FUJITA Yudai |
|
| 33rd | 2019 | 68 balloons (Overseas 18 / 11 countries) |
FUJITA Yudai |
|
| - | 2020 | (Canceled due to COVID-19) | ||
| 34th | 2021 | 51 balloons (Only Japanese Balloons) |
UEDA Satoshi |
|
| 35th | 2022 | 53 balloons (Only Japanese Balloons) |
FUJITA Yudai |
|
| 36th | 2023 | 73 balloons (Overseas 18 / 16 countries) |
HEARTSILL Rhett |
|
| 37th | 2024 | 69 balloons (Overseas 20 / 16 countries) |
KATAHIRA Shiro |
Japanese site
Last Modified: 2025.10.03
Special Sponsor
