>> Turn off the Lights and Watch the Stars on October 17--Lights-Down Event in Kofu Valley
>> Candle Night Summer Solstice 2009--Report on June 21
>> Event report: Dim It 2009--Hong Kong
>> Enjoy the Starlight--The International Year of Astronomy 2009
>> Event: 'Dim It' in Hong Kong-- Lights-out Event on June 21 (Updated)
>> Many People Enjoyed Candle Night--Candle Night Saskatchewan, Canada
>> Brief Report on Candle Night December 2008
>> Candle Night in Slovenia--Event Report in December 2009
>> Candle Night in Zenryouji Temple--'Go home make a wish'
>> Recreating Ancient Night of 'Heian' Dynasty--Lights-down at Kyoto Gyoen Forests
>> Event Report: Dim It--Hong Kong
>> Event Report: Lights Out Day in China
>> Event Report: Lights Out Day--Taiwan
>> Event Report: Candle Night Korea
>> Over 65,000 Facilities to Join--MOE's Lights Down Campaign
>> Event Update: Candle Night Korea
>> Brief Report of Candle Night Winter Solstice 2007
>> Artist's Performances--Candle Night in Governador Valadares, Brazil
>> Getting the Candle Night Message Across to the World--Fuji Xerox Co.
>> A Family's Wishes on Candle Night--The Story of Ivory
>> Effects of MOE's "Lights Down" Campaign June 2007
>> Candle Night in Taipei 2007
>> Candle Night Summer Solstice 2007 in Tokyo
>> MOE's 'Lights Down Campaign'--Black Illumination 2007
>> Mauritius held the 2nd Candle Night.
>> "Five-minute Action" took place in Europe, Feb 1, 2007
>> Reports from Overseas--December 2006
>> Candle Night Winter Solstice 2006--Kobe, Japan
>> Preparation also Underway in Candlelight--South Korea Winter 2006
>> A Brief Report of Candle Night Summer Solstice 2006
>> MOE's Black Illumination 2006
>> National Candle Night in Mauritius 2006
>> Milk Carton Lanterns Lighting up Kumamoto
>> Beeswax candle workshop and volunteer meeting at JFS
>> Candle Night Winter Solstice 2006--Rikkyo University
>> A Living Organism--Candle Night in Sapporo 2005
>> Candle Night in Shanghai 2005
>> Greetings to Candle Nighters on the other side of the world.
>> Candle Night in South Korea 2005
>> Candle Night at Harajuku Cat Street
>> 'Candle Night'-Summer Solstice 2004 in Japan
Candle Night Summer Solstice 2009--Report on June 21
Candle Night 2009 started on June 20 and continues until July 7.
The lights-down campaign has been led jointly by the Ministry of the Environment, calling businesses, shops, public and private organizations for turning off their lights for two hours from 8 to 10 pm on June 21 and July 7.
According to the ministry, over 77,000 facilities signed up for the campaign as of June 27, and its number is still growing.
On and around the night of summer solstice, many Candle Night events were held in Japan. One major event on the day of summer solstice was the Tokyo Tower lights-off event, called "Tokyo Happyakuyatou 2009." It was organized by Daichi-O-Mamoru-Kai. Despite a little rain, about 3000 people gathered at the event site to watch the lights-off moment. When the tower lights were turned off at 8 p.m., people began enjoying the darkness, holding candles in hand.
Other facilities, such as Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Midtown and Omotesando Avenue, also joined the Candle Night event with turning out their lights. the Tokyo Tower and the Rainbow Bridge will have another lights-off on July 7.
Not only these major facilities in Tokyo, but the lights-off movement has spread across the nation as if it were a gentle wave of candlelight. Local cities and towns, smaller shops and restaurants, and educational institutions organized events of Candle Night
and invited people to share the precious time.
By having Candle Night, we are encouraging people to look for something we tend to forget in our busy everyday lives.
