My name is Joy and I am an intern at Nichigo Press. In this 8th edition, I would like to introduce the annual ‘Canberra Nara Candle Festival’ held on November 4th to celebrate the sister city partnership between Canberra and Nara.
What is the ‘Canberra Nara Candle Festival’?
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the sister city partnership between Canberra and Nara, over 2,000 candles lit up the Canberra Nara Peace Park. This event, inspired by the large-scale festival ‘Nara Tokae’ held annually in Nara, has been a major event in Canberra since 2003.
This year, Mayor Gen Nakagawa of Nara City, Ambassador to Australia, Kazuhiro Suzuki, and a group of students from Nara University High School were in attendance. They rang the Peace Bell and lit ceremonial candles as part of the festival’s official ceremony.
Canberra and Nara’s sister city relationship
In October 26, 1993, the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory and the Mayor of Nara City agreed to establish a sister city relationship to promote exchanges in various fields such as industry, culture, sports, education, technology, and tourism. It was formally established on March 31, 1994, marking the beginning of cooperation in various areas such as mutual exchanges between representative delegations from both cities, welcoming visiting groups, academic, cultural, and sports exchanges, industrial exchanges, and promotion of tourism.
In 1999, the Canberra-Nara Peace Park was established on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin as a symbol of friendship between the two cities, where the Canberra Nara Candle Festival is held annually.
Currently, the two cities have built vibrant relations in various fields including schools, cultural organisations, sports clubs, Rotary clubs, professional organisations, businesses, and government agencies. The popularity of the Canberra Nara Candle Festival is considered a testament to the warmth and respect cultivated over 30 years of friendship.
The lively atmosphere of the Japanese festival
The event started at 4 p.m., and attendees could enjoy various performances, activities, exhibitions, and food as the sun set. By around 7 p.m., as it began to get dark, a lovely candle display could be seen.
I attended the same event last year, but this year I felt that even more people had gathered. The food stalls had especially long lines. Takoyaki, gyoza, okonomiyaki, and many Japanese festival favourites were very popular among those who wanted to enjoy the unique atmosphere of Japan’s festivals.
On stage, there were splendid performances by Noriko Tadano, a Tsugaru Shamisen artist, the YuNiOn Taiko duo, and more! At the activity booths, attendees could enjoy origami, calligraphy, and lantern-making to name a few.
The venue was filled with people wearing kimonos, as well as adults and children in cosplay. I was once again impressed by the large number of Canberrans who love Japanese culture.
An event that evokes peace and warmth
Despite it being spring, the night in Canberra was very cool, but the warmth from the candles shining in the darkness brought a cosy atmosphere. It’s something to be grateful for that a peaceful event, based on the friendship between Canberra and Nara, can be enjoyed by many people. I hope that the sister city relationship between Canberra and Nara, as well as the Australia-Japan relationship, will continue to deepen in the future!
