Candle Festival Lighting Ceremony | Embassy of Japan in Australia

Japanese garden at the Ambassador's Residence

Tokae candles

Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, the annual Canberra Nara Candle Festival could not be held in the park as a public event this year. Instead, the Embassy of Japan accepted the ACT government’s proposal to hold a Lighting Ceremony in the Japanese Garden at the Ambassador’s Residence, which was held on the 15^th of October.

Ambassador and Mrs Takahashi, Mrs Narelle Hargreaves OAM, Chair of Canberra Nara Sister City Committee

Mr Barry Jarman (former president of AJS) and Ms Dianne Fitzpatrick (Canberra Nara Sister City Committee)

The official ceremony began with a “Welcome to Country” greeting by local Ngunnawal emerging elder, Mr Richie Allan, followed by a performance of didgeridoo and clapsticks. After speeches from Ambassador Takahashi, Mrs Narelle Hargreaves OAM, the Chair of Canberra Nara Sister City Committee, Mr Brendan Smyth, Commissioner for International Engagement, Mr Michael Rabey, Rotary Club Peace Bell co-ordinator, and a video message from the Mayor of Nara city, Mr Gen Nakagawa, the symbolic candle was lit by the Ambassador and Mrs Hargreaves to mark the 27^th year of the sister city relationship between Canberra and Nara.

Performance by Mr Richie Allan, Ngunnawal emerging elder (left: clapsticks) and his son (right: didgeridoo)

Mr Brendan Smyth, Commissioner for International Engagement, ACT Government

Mr Michael Rabey, Rotary Club Peace Bell co-ordinator

Candle Lightning by Ambassador Takahashi and Mrs Narelle Hargreaves OAM

Shakuhachi performance by Dr Riley Lee

Japanese garden at the Ambassador's Residence

The garden was decorated with 1200 candles and special lighting shone over the tranquil garden setting. With this magical backdrop, the ceremony concluded with Dr Riley Lee’s shakuhachi performance. The scenes of the lighting ceremony were professionally recorded on the resulting video can be viewed on the Candle Festival 2020 official website by the ACT government. This was the first time that the Candle Festival was presented online, and its content has been enhanced with a campaign called “Itadakimasu”, promoting local Japanese restaurants and eateries, craft ideas, and various Japan related businesses in Canberra. In addition, useful information by the Japan National Travel Organisation (JNTO) and the Council for Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR, Sydney) are now available on the same website to promote not only Japanese culture and tourism but also a deeper understanding of Japan in Australia.