For the first time, I went to see the Otsu Natsu Matsuri last month. I was surprised to see the new Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada. I got a good picture of her dancing too:
https://photoguide.jp/pix/displayimage.php?album=369&pos=13

I also went to see the Biwako Fireworks for the first time. I was very upset by the many barriers and walls they put up near Hama-Otsu. That whole area was for reserved spectator seats. They were charging 2,000 yen or more. So we had to walk all the way to the free area toward the Prince Hotel. The fireworks was good, but I left about 30 min. early to avoid the large crowds going home. The closest station was the small little Shimanoseki Station on the Keihan Line. I cannot imagine how crowded it became after the fireworks ended.