Kobe Luminarie
kobe luminarie 神戸ルミナリエ light festival held kobe japan every december since commemorate great hanshin earthquake year light donated italian government installation produced valerio festi hirokazu imaoka individually hand painted light lit year electricity generated biomass order stay environmentally friendly light kept two week turned hour evening major street vicinity closed auto traffic hour allow pedestrian fill street enjoy light viewed three five million people year great hanshin earthquake struck kobe january left dead caused billion damage since many live darkness due supply cut electricity gas water idea putting light acted symbol hope recovery renovation though supposed take place strong popularity demand citizen encouraged continuation luminarie become annual event silent prayer victim earthquake take place opening ceremony memorial naming killed posted night however due effect coronavirus disease even scale reduced expected cause congestion extremely difficult implement infection control measure also italian craftsman prospect entering japan kobe luminarie event canceled event resumed january change usual december schedule rather previous centralised display festival display dispersed multiple site kobe large galleria frontone display forming paidentry area merikan park luminarie year tohoku earthquake tsunami special exhibition held raise money victim luminarie drawing child region used make lantern displayed event hanshin earthquake left kobe slump tourist attraction one factor brought tourism back kobe sincerity luminarie event honoring victim earthquake event attracts around million people kobe every year raise million donation million sponsorship merchandise sale table indicates number people attending luminarie event year since luminarie also numerous sponsor following ten dozen sponsor jr west hankyu corporation nestle group japan hanshin electric railway co toa share kadokawa magazine ltd sysmex ltd christmas light traditional lighting equipment japan parol luminaria osaka hikari renaissance english—another light festival take place december january around nakanoshima central osaka