Inspired by the Voluntary Blackout, an environmental NGO, the Sloth Club, held "kurayami-café" (meaning café in the dark) at Café Slow in Tokyo. In 2002, another environmental NGO, Daichi-O-Mamorukai (The Association to Preserve the Earth) named the movement "Candle Night." They encouraged people to spend some quality time in the candlelight, taking a more life-oriented approach.

After receiving favorable responses, they formed a network with other organizations and expanded the movement all over Japan. Candle Night has been observed twice a year, on the summer and winter solstices.

"Candle Night" suggests spending some time in more natural light, away from everyday life and artificial lighting. It's not a movement intending to force people to turn off their lights or to raucously protest against anything.

While planning, Professor Shinichi Tsuji and his group discussed what the best dates would be to turn off the lights simultaneously across the country. They agreed it should not be a national holiday or anniversary that only a few countries would celebrate. It should be a day that all countries recognize, like the summer and winter solstices.

Responding to the call from key promoters of the Candle Night (the Candle Night Committee), governments and businesses started to support the movement. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment, a partner of Candle Night, started a nationwide "Lights Down" campaign on the summer solstice in June 2003. Major landmarks including the Clock Tower in Sapporo, the Tokyo Tower, castles, and corporate buildings, turned off their lights as part of the Lights Down campaign in support of Candle Night.

The Candle Night Committee and the Ministry of the Environment bring it to your attention. You organize Candle Night.

New Social Movement

1) The first nationwide movement that has been spread from NGO's to the government and businesses

Responding to the call from key promoters of Candle Night (the Candle Night Committee), governments and businesses started to support the movement. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment is a partner of the movement.

2) "Positive movement"--Candle Night accepts diverse principles and sense of values. Candle Night is not a movement to deny something. It is to encourage people to turn off their lights, to light candles, and to spend slow, quality time with their loved ones and friends.

3) Candle Night is spreading to the world, turning "lights-out" into a "new culture." Just by turning off the lights, we can enjoy quality time--this is what Candle Night suggests, and this is the reason why Candle Night has become popular among people. In 2003, 2,300 facilities joined Candle Night in Japan. In 2004 the number rose to over 6,000, in 2005 over 22,000, in 2006 over about 40,000, and in 2007 over 63,000. The estimated number of individual participants was 5 million in 2003, 6.4 million in 2004, and 6.64 million in 2005, according to the MOE. (The survey ended in 2005.) People in Taiwan and South Korea held Candle Night events in 2006 and 2007. The Candle Night Committee calls for the whole world to join the movement. The world is now paying attention to Candle Night. Candle Night is changing the image of Japan from a country that stands out as a leader of economy and efficiency to one that is on the environmental and humanitarian forefront.

Why we hold Candle Night on the summer and winter solstices

1) To accept diversity
The summer and winter solstices are the days not associated with specific principles or ideas, such as the peace movement or environmental preservation. The solstices can be accepted by all types of people who have different values. The days were selected to encourage people to feel a sense of connectedness to their surroundings and nature.

2) To make people feel nature's rhythms
Even in busy everyday life, people know the solstice is getting closer as they experience longer daylight hours. Candle Night can provide people with chances to feel the Earth's movement.

3) Beyond national borders
The summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, is the shortest day of the southern hemisphere. Since our first Candle Night in 2003, we have wanted Candle Night to become a global movement. The summer and winter solstices are universal and special for people all over the world. They are well-suited for the global movement.