JET Programme Series: Kobe Luminaire - David Ramgobin & Annika Mohammed

The Kobe Luminarie in Kobe City is one of many illumination events that happen all over Japan in the first few weeks of December, each year.
 

The Kobe Luminaire is a free event that attracts thousands of people every year, it is a light festival in memory of the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. These light displays were created by Japanese and Italian artists in memoriam to the victims of that earthquake, in an effort to inspire camaraderie and hope in recovery. The lights themselves were donated by the Italian government, are individually hand-painted, and are powered by biomass.
 

Scores of people gather from afar to see these arrangements, as it can be described as one of the surest signs that Christmas is here.
 

At the Luminarie, one can find a myriad of charity volunteers asking for donations, as well as numerous food and souvenir stalls. One can find keychains, books, clothing accessories, confections, and various kinds of fried foods like churros, takoyaki, and yakisoba. There are also a few skyscrapers nearby that are equipped with observation decks, for those seeking a bird’s eye view of the event as it happens. People can also get a stunning view of the illuminations sitting atop Mount Rokko to the north from these decks.
 

David Ramgobin

The overall experience one can get at Kobe Luminarie is completed by the weather and the surrounding sounds at the event. As a first time goer, having seen many Hallmark and Rankin-Bass Christmas specials, getting into the Christmas spirit was almost instant. At the entry gate, each person is immediately met with a gust of cold wind coming from the north. From the entry gate, one can see a large number of illuminated archs, placed one after the other, giving the appearance of a hallway made out of pure light. While walking through this hallway, the blissful sounds of a few Christmas choirs will set you at ease, leaving you to enjoy the wonder of the lights that much more.
 

Annika Mohammed

I visited the light festival on the second day since its opening even though I was advised not to go that early because of the massive crowd that I will definitely meet there. I braved the cold 3℃ weather and stood in line for maybe 1 hour but when I finally got to the lights, it was magical, the trees that lined the streets were lit with Christmas lights, all leading to the magnificent cathedral shaped archway that was beautifully glowing with what seemed like thousands of twinkling stars. It was every colour imaginable and seen from a distance looked like someone plucked a piece of the night’s sky, shining with millions of bright stars, and placed it there. Walking through the tunnel was an amazing experience, there you can see lights everywhere, the walls and ceiling where lined with lights and it was unrealistic at times. Making my way through the crowd to the end of the journey I came to an opening with the most amazing display of lights that were also made to look like a large cathedral. The music that could be heard in the distance was reminiscent to that of what you think you would hear when you visit the Sistine Chapel. It was ethereal and even with all the people around it was somehow calming. Even though this event was beautiful, the reason behind it was not lost, this was because, volunteers collecting money for charity and for the less needy where visible though out the walk. It was an unbelieve event and I suggest anyone who is in the Hyogo/Kansai area during this time of year to definitely visit the Luminaire.


JET Series: Kobe Luminaire (Japanese Embassy Facebook)
JET Series: Kobe Luminaire Video (Japanese Embassy Facebook)


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