Further Inquiries: Osaka Promotion and Tourism Div.,

Osaka Prefectural Government

+81-(0)6-6210-9304

Tourism Dept.,

Economic Strategy Bureau

Osaka City Government

+81-(0)6-6469-5157

July, 2013

Festival of the Light in Osaka Executive Committee

This winter, series of annual lighting and illumination events will be held all over the city center

under the unified title of “Festival of the Light in Osaka 2013,” in order to enhance Osaka’s brand

as a metropolis and thus to promote tourism to Osaka while producing better image of the city all

over the world. (Organizer: Festival of the Light in Osaka Executive Committee. Chair:

Governor of Osaka. Period: December 1, 2013 to January 19, 2014)

The core events will be OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance, which takes place in the City’s central area of

Nakanoshima with abundant greenery and waterscape of rivers, and Mido-suji Illumination, along

with the Osaka’s main street Mido-suji Blvd. Eight other area programs will also welcome the

visitors with relaxing and warm lightscapes. (Ref. 1)

Mr. Julien Pavillard, a renowned French art director who was in charge of famous Fêtes des

Lumières in Lyon, and other international experts on lightscapes and contemporary art will select

the four best programs in three categories at the “Light Art Award Evaluation Committee.” We

sincerely hope that this selection process will be a new stepping-stone for various artists.

The first meeting of the Committee recently selected the contractors for Mido-suji Illumination

(Illumination Category) and PR Design (Graphic Design Category). (Ref. 2)

The Festival of the Light in Osaka is aiming to be a Japanese version of Fêtes des Lumières, which

gives Lyon the global brand as city of lights and culinary. We believe that Osaka will also receive

global reputation as a city of lights, in addition to a city of gastronomy.

The Festival of the Light in Osaka 2013 will also entertain its visitors with various optional

“Strolling Tour Programs” for snacks and drinks and

shopping with lights and illumination, and we are looking

forward to welcoming you here in Osaka this winter. (Ref.

3)

Festival of Light in Osaka 2013

Series of Annual Events for the Winter

(Reference 1)

(1) OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2013

Nakanoshima Park, the symbol of Osaka’s water, light, history and culture, will turn into a light and

illumination paradise, centering at riversides and greenery (rose garden)

5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, December 15 to 25, 2013

Preview: 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, December 1 to 14, 2013

N.B. Preview will be held only along Miotsukushi Promenade (South side of the City Hall)

Miotsukushi Promenade Nakanoshima Ave. Osaka City Central Public Hall

*Images from past events

(2) Mido-suji Illumination 2013

Osaka’s main street, Mido-suji Boulevard, will be illuminated in harmony with the light-up of the

grand facade of the City Hall, symbolizing the exchanges through history and culture, people and

communities and nature.

Around 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, December 1, 2013 to January 19, 2014

*Images from past events

1. Core Events

２ Area Programs

Eight area programs are planned in the city center mainly by private sector, in

connection with core events, and utilizing the uniqueness of the venue areas.

UMEDA Snowman Festival 2013【Organizer】 UMEDA Snowman Festival 2013

Executive Committee

Aqua Metropolis Osaka Illuminations

Cruise 2013【Organizer】Osaka City Cruise Promotion

Conference

German Christmas Market Osaka 2013【Organizer】 German Christmas Market Osaka 2013

Executive Committee

Temma Sakuranomiya Riverside Christmas

【Organizer】Temma Area Association

ABETEN ”HIKARI-NO-NEIRO”(tentative name)

【Organizer】Welcoming ABENO・TENNOJI campaign office

（tentative logo）

Nakanoshima-west “Winter story 2013”【Organizer】Nakanoshima-west area promotion liaison

organization

Lights up!! Entertainment city

SHINSAIBASHI・DOTONBORI・NAMBA!【Organizer】 M Project Executive Committee

Osaka Castle Illumination

(tentative name)【Organizer】Osaka Government Tourism

Bureau, etc.

Area Programs（Images from past events）

Nakanoshima-west “Winter story 2013”【Organizer】Nakanoshima-west area promotion liaison

organization

Aqua Metropolis Osaka Illuminations

Cruise 2013【Organizer】Osaka City Cruise Promotion

Conference

UMEDA Snowman Festival 2013【Organizer】 UMEDA Snowman Festival 2013

Executive Committee

German Christmas Market Osaka 2013【Organizer】 German Christmas Market Osaka 2013

Executive Committee

※Details on each area program will be announced in late August.

Area Programs (Newly programs)

Area Programs（Images from past events）

Temma Sakuranomiya Riverside Christmas

【Organizer】Temma Area Association

ABETEN ”HIKARI-NO-NEIRO”(tentative name)

【Organizer】Welcoming ABENO・TENNOJI campaign office

（tentative logo）

Lights up!! Entertainment city

SHINSAIBASHI・DOTONBORI・NAMBA!【Organizer】 M Project Executive Committee

Osaka Castle Illumination

(tentative name)【Organizer】Osaka Government Tourism

Bureau, etc.

(Reference 2)

The Light Award Evaluation Committee is formed for the selection of works of high quality,

which will further enhance Osaka’s brand as a metropolis. The committee has designated the

contractors for Mido-suji Illumination (Illumination Category) and PR Design (Graphic Design

Category).

(1) Illumination Category (Mido-suji Illumination)

Winner MIDOSUJI Illumination Design Joint venture organization

（KANAZAWA DENKI Co.,Ltd., LEM Design Studio Co.,Ltd.）

Business chief Yoshiteru SATO(KANAZAWA DENKI Co.,Ltd.)

Designer Shiho NAGAMACHI(LEM Design Studio Co.,Ltd.)

*Images on the proposal (subject to change)

3. Light Art Award Evaluation Committee

(2) Graphic Design Category (PR Design)

Winner ADK_GROUP

（ASATSU-DK Inc., bricolage Inc., North-Hill Co., Ltd., TENRI JIHOSHA CO.)

Senior Account Director Takeshi FURUKAWA (ASTSU-DK Inc.)

Designer Naoto HIRABAYASHI（bricolage Inc.）

*Images on the proposal (subject to change)

*Applications are being accepted for Projection Category (Projection on the Osaka City Central

Public Hall) and Illumination Category (Nakanoshima Rose Garden Illumination). The winners

will be selected in the late August.

(3) Members of Light Art Award Evaluation Committee

Kaoru MENDE

Lighting Designer, Principal / Lighting Planners Associates Inc.

Orisaku was born in Ishikawa in Japan. Nominated as the 1981 Miss Universe

Japan. Af ter studying photography under Shoji OTAKE f rom 1982, she became a

f reelance photographer in 1987. The winner of 2000 Waterford Wedgewood

Lifestyle Award.

Many governments and tourism bureaus are her regular clients, and her works

focus on beautiful sceneries and wonderful moments of people all over the world.

In 2009, Orisaku was invited for an exhibition at the Hungarian House of

Photography in Mai Manó House, commemorating the 140th anniversary of

diplomatic relations between Japan and Hungary.

Mineko ORISAKU

Photographer (Professor at Osaka University of Arts)

Yuko YAMAMOTO

Gallery Director (Representative Director of YAMAMOTO GENDAI)

Julien PAVILLARD

Art Director/ Lighting Consultant

Pavillard has been part of the light and image world since the age of ten, thanks to

his parents who invented and developed the “Pigi,” a giant image projector. In

2005, he was hired as the project manager for Lyon’s Fête des Lumières. He is

globally working in the f ield of lighting design and production.

Director of a contemporary art gallery, YAMAMOTO GENDAI. Yamamoto

opened her original gallery in factory district of Kagurazaka in Tokyo in 2004, and

moved to Shirokane area in 2008. She has been introducing artists with various

media and techniques such as Motohiko Odani, Kenji Yanobe, Yasuyuki Nishio

and Ujino. She has also been holding exhibitions and promoting inter-f ields

young talents like Masakatsu Takagi, Kohei Kobayashi, and Erina Matsui.

Yamamoto is actively engaged in collaborating with international galleries and

museums and participating in art fairs.

Kaoru Mende was born in Tokyo in 1950. In 1990, he founded Lighting

Planners Associates Inc. The scope of his design and planning activities ranges

widely f rom residential and architectural lighting design to urban and

environmental lighting. Mende is also the acting chief of the “Lighting

Detectives”, a citizens’ group that specializes in the study of the culture of

lighting.

Mende has been involved in such superb projects as Tokyo International Forum,

JR Kyoto Station, Singapore City Center Lighting Master Plan, Alila Villas

Uluwatu, Aman New Delhi and Façade lighting for Tokyo station.

Books Mende has authored include “Transnational Lighting Detectives”(Kajima Publishing), “LIGHTING DESIGN for Urban Environments and

Architecture” (Rikuyosya), “Designing with Shadow”(Rikuyosya), “The Light

Seminar” (Kajima Publishing) and many other.

(Reference 3)

Osaka has been prospering as the hub for land and sea transport and as the center of economy and

commerce in Japan. Thus, various agricultural and fishery products accumulated in Osaka for trade

in the 17th and 18th century, which gives the city a nickname of the “Kitchen of the Nation.”

Even today, many chefs are serving dishes with their pride for the tradition, while with ease you can

also find international cuisines, such as French and Italian. Not only such fancy restaurants but

Japanese traditional snacks and fast food like Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki and Kitsune Udon noodle will

give you a long list of various choices for your appetite.

4. Osaka’s Culinary Culture