Hello all - I just wanted to piggyback on Mark and Kirk’s posts and share a bit more information about the Kumamoto Mizuakari festival with you, as it’s an event that’s very close to my heart (and I’m sad not to be in Kumamoto this year to experience it). If you’re in Kumamoto and didn’t get to see all of the lights and lanterns yesterday, please think about going today!
The festival was started in 2004 as part of an effort to celebrate the unique beauty and heart of Kumamoto and the diverse people who live there. In recent years it has featured over 50,000 candles, thousands of lanterns, and the hard work of thousands of craftspeople, volunteers, and organizers. I first saw it in 2012 only a few short weeks after arriving in Kumamoto. It was my first time living in another country, and to say that I was stressed is an understatement. The Mizuakari festival was one of the first events that made me feel like I was living as part of a community, and it will always be one of my dearest memories.
This year and last year, though, it’s taken on a deeper meaning as a symbol of support and perseverance in the face of the damage caused by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. Not only does it show the creativity and dedication of the crasftpeople and volunteers who make the festival possible (not just in Kumamoto but also around the world - thanks, Mark!) - it’s also a way for people to come together and express hope for the future. Working together is what makes us strong.
I wanted to share a short video with you about last year’s festival. If you can read Japanese, you’ll note that many of the lanterns are decorated with messages of love and support in face of the earthquakes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MhyGvI3u24
I also wanted to share one of my Mizuakari photos from when I was living in Kumamoto. If you were able to go this year, please think about sharing some of your photos with us!
-Grace