This year marks the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Canberra, Australia and Nara, Japan.
The Canberra Nara Candle Festival will mark the occasion with a celebration of Japanese culture and over 2,000 candles at Nara Peace Park in Lennox Gardens on Saturday 4 November.
The festival began in 2003, as a tribute to the sister city relationship between the two cities on its tenth anniversary, and has grown to become one of Canberra’s key cultural events.
The festival is based upon a much larger candle festival, Nara Tokae, held annually in Nara, Japan.
This year’s event will be attended by the Mayor of Nara, Mr Gen Nakagawa, the Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency, Mr Kazuhiro Suzuki, and a delegation of students from Nara University High School who will ring the Peace Bell and light ceremonial candles as part of the festival’s official ceremony.
Canberra and Nara’s sister city relationship was proposed and sponsored by the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in conjunction with the Nara Chamber of Commerce, after almost 20 years of regular contact between our two communities.
The official signing of the proclamation of a Canberra Nara Sister City relationship occurred in Nara on 26 October 1993.
In 1999, Canberra Nara Peace Park was developed on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin to symbolise the friendship between our cities and hosts the Canberra Nara Candle Festival each year in celebration of that friendship.
Today, our two cities continue to have a vibrant relationship with regular and increasing links between schools, cultural and sporting organisations, Rotary clubs, professional associations, businesses, and governments.
The growing popularity of the Canberra Nara Candle Festival is a testament to a 30 year relationship built on warmth and respect.
This year’s festival will feature various displays, performances and activities celebrating Japanese art, culture, and delicious food.
To see the full program visit events.canberra.com.au/nara
