Winter illuminations in Japan

April Dykes
2 日前
読了時間: 5分

Winter is cold and often filled with snow and short days, but it is also filled with the warmth of loved ones and illuminations that light up the night. While you can view some illuminations throughout the year, autumn and winter are the main seasons you will see them. We all love illuminations, but does anyone know the history of illuminations in Japan? If you’re like me and the answer to that question is ‘No’, let’s dive into the history together.

Light has existed since the beginning of time, so we can skip that part. Let’s begin with the history of lights that made the illumination displays we love today possible.

Illuminating the night

We know that the long-lasting incandescent light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in 1879. Since 1879, technological advancements for lightbulbs have made them a staple in every home and establishment. Before this groundbreaking invention, light and various forms of it had existed throughout the world for a long time. “Until the incandescent light bulb and other modern light fixtures were popularized in the nineteenth century, lighting was created by burning something with fire, both in Japan as well as in most countries and regions in the world. Lighting was first created with trees and plants, followed by oil, and then finally with candles” (Fujiwara, 2022).

The todai, light stand, was invented during the Asuka period (538 to 710)
Andon, a light stand surrounded by a fire box to block out the wind, was invented during the Edo period (1603 to 1868)
The chochin lantern, made from washi paper fixed onto a frame of thin bamboo strips, with a lit candle inside, was created during the Edo period (1603 to 1868)
Kerosene lights were introduced to Japan between the end of the Edo period and the Meiji Era
First gas light installed in Yokohama (1872)
First arc lamp set up in Ginza (1882)

According to the Public Relations Office: Government of Japan, the filament material that Edison used to commercialize the first incandescent light bulb was made possible by using bamboo from Kyoto as a filament material that conducts electricity and lights up.

As international trade and travel increased, the cultural exchange of Christmas displays and illuminations made its way to Japan through Isono, the founder of Meijiya. While studying in England, he experienced Christmas and the illuminations that lit up the streets. Meijiya was founded in Yokohama in 1885 by Isono Hakaru. “...inspired by his experiences studying in England, he began using Christmas decorations in his own stores as part of his advertising and promotional activities from the time of his founding. When the Ginza store, which opened in 1900, also put up Christmas decorations, it is said that many other stores in Ginza followed Meijiya's lead and began to actively use Christmas decorations” (Meijiya). From the 1900’s onward, the illuminations displayed continued to draw crowds and increased in popularity.

That spark of creativity, innovation, and fascination with lights reached a new height with the National Industrial Exhibition in 1903. It was at this exhibition that the first major light display was held. “The event was held even at night for the first time in the history of Japanese National Industrial Exhibitions, with illumination provided at the venue. A big fountain was illuminated with five colors, and the Obayashi Tower, fitted with an elevator, drew crowds. These items indicated that Japan had fully entered into the electric age” (National Diet Library Japan).

Illumination as we know it

With the creation of the LED light in 1962, winter illuminations saw another major change. By the 1980s, the scale and popularity of illumination displays had grown, leading to the creation of the Sapporo White Illumination in 1981. This illumination consisted of more than 1,000 lights at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and was inspired by the lights of NYC. This illumination display inspired the tradition of winter illuminations throughout Japan. The next major illumination, the Kobe Luminarie, followed the tragic Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on January 17, 1995. The Kobe Luminaire was originally meant to be a one-time, 11-day event starting on December 5, 1995. It was held “to pray for the victims and hope for the reconstruction of Kobe city. Since then, this event has been held annually as a symbol of Kobe's resilience and as a place to reconfirm the lessons of the earthquake” (Official Travel Guide of Kobe).

The theme of the luminaire display was “Dream and Light,” which took about 150,000 light bulbs to create. This theme carried the prayers from the living for the dearly departed and a light that moved hearts and shone brightly in the dark. This theme seemed to say that there will always be light, even in the darkest of times. Deeply moved by the display, Toshiro Ota proposed making it a yearly event and worked hard to support and sponsor it every year until his death in 2020.

“The name "Luminarie" comes from the Italian word for "electrical decoration. Luminarie, which create three-dimensional artistic spaces by placing colorful light bulbs on wooden structures of various design styles, is said to have originated as festival decorations in medieval Italy and can now be seen mainly in southern Italy. Each year, a theme is set for the Kobe Luminarie, and each piece is designed around that theme. The materials for this piece are sourced in Italy, transported to Kobe, and assembled by Italian craftsmen and Japanese staff” (Official Travel Guide of Kobe).

Illuminations

Today, we have illuminations for various holidays and reasons, and each of them is unique and beautiful. There are hundreds of illuminations happening throughout Japan, and it can be hard to know where to start. Below is a list of illuminations that I hope you can add to your lists and enjoy.