2023 WATERBOMB Festival In Osaka Canceled After The Death Of A Worker During Rehearsal

The 2023 WATERBOMB JAPAN event in Osaka has been canceled after a worker was accidentally killed during a rehearsal.

Media reported that during a morning rehearsal on July 14, a water cannon shot at 120 kilometers per hour accidentally hit a male worker in the face, knocking him unconscious.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead from what is believed to be a brain contusion.

WATERBOMB JAPAN’s official social media accounts shared an announcement stating that the July 15 and 16 event would be canceled and fully refunded.

【大阪公演 開催中止について】

7月15日（土）・16日（日）に開催を予定しておりましたWATERBOMB JAPAN 2023 大阪公演に関しまして、会場設営の際、重大な事故が発生いたしました。

上記重大事故にともない、イベント開催がこれ以上不可能と判断し、大阪公演については中止とさせていただきます。… pic.twitter.com/MQZ0elgpUA

— Waterbomb_Japan_Official (@Waterbomb_Japan) July 14, 2023

“Regarding the WATERBOMB JAPAN 2023 Osaka performance, which was scheduled to be held on July 15 (Saturday) and 16 (Sunday), a serious accident occured during the construction of the venue. 

Due to the above serious accident, we have deicded that it is no longer possible to hold the event, and we will cancel the performance in Osaka. 

We deeply apologize for the convenience caused to the customers and everyone involved who were looking forward to the event, and for making such an announcement before the event. 

We will take appropriate measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur again. 

Tickets for the Osaka event will be fully refunded and more information will be provided at a later date. If you have any questions, please contact info_osaka@waterbombjapan.com.
Organizer: WATERBOMB JAPAN (Birdman Co., Ltd., SHOWK Co., Ltd., Enterbrand Co, INC)”

— WATERBOMB JAPAN (translation provided by Google)

The WATERBOMB Festival began in Korea ut has spread to other locations across Asia. The Osaka event’s line-up included several Korean acts, including D-LITE (BIGBANG‘s Daesung) MAMAMOO+, Jessi, and Kwon Eunbi.

WATERBOMB events in Tokyo and Nagoya are scheduled for later this month, and no announcements regarding those have been made.