Hello again, everyone! 久しぶりですね！Long time no see!
Sorry for the unacceptably long lull in posting but due to Covid and the newer Delta variant, I haven't been able to do much traveling to post about. But that's all about to change. I'm going to be updating you all on some things I've done over the last few months that I haven't been able to post about until now. So let's just get right into it!
Sendai (仙台)
Back in January, I took a simple two-day trip to Sendai in Miyagi prefecture for the Pageant of Starlight (光のページェント・Hikari no Pagentto).
This festival started in 1986 and takes place every year on Jozenjidori Street in early January.
Sendai uses this festival as a way to battle the bitter cold and darkness of winter with the illuminated brilliance of over 600,000 lights in over 160 zelkova trees.
On the first night of the festival, a "Starlight Symphony" is held and the Sendai Philharmonic orchestra holds charity concerts.
Another beautiful feature of this festival is called the "Starlight Wink". It takes place at 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm every night. This is when the street illuminations are turned off, plunging the street into darkness for about one minute, before they flicker back on, returning to their shimmering brilliance. It's supposed to imitate the flickering and shimmering of real stars.
The location of the tunnel of lights is perfect since it is located just a 20 minute walk from the main station and is surrounded by many restaurants, shops, and hotels. Many stalls are set up to sell warm sake, beer, wine, churros, pizza, crepes (like the one below) and many other delicious and hot foods. There are also special tents set up with heaters inside so you can warm up if you get too cold.
There is also an ice rink nearby where you can rent skates for 800 yen (approx. $8), which I thought was a nice wintery addition. My favorite ice skater, Yuzuru Hanyu, was born in Sendai and it was really cool to think about how many times he may have skated at that very rink and festival as he grew up and began skating!
Finally, among the 600,000 LED lights, all shimmering and flickering in soft oranges, yellows, and whites, there is a single pink light. Locals believe that if you are able to find this single pink light among the thousands, it will bring you luck and happiness in the new year. I wasn't able to find it but I hope to someday!
History
While the Sendai Pageant of Starlight is beautiful and dream-like, the history of it isn't very shiny at all.
In 1945, after the Sendai air raid during WWII, wide areas of Sendai were burned to the ground. The city went from being known as the "City of Sacred Forests" to the "Sendai Desert".
After reconstruction began on the city, they began developing new buildings and wider streets to modernize it. During this time, "spike tires" were being used on the construction equipment. This created a lot of dust and flying debris during the winter, creating a dirty and desert-like appearance. In 1985, the regulation of "spike tires" started to help control this dust and dirt and, shortly after, the Sendai citizens started to organize better ways to help clean up their beloved city.
They began to decorate the zelkova trees on Jozenjidori street to help illuminate the city and create a livelier and more beautiful scene for the cold, dark winter nights.
Thus the Pageant of Starlight began.
I think it's fascinating to learn about not only the modern version of these festivals, but the history behind them and how they began. Oftentimes, the most beautiful and cherished traditions came from the ashes or a less fortunate event.
Hopefully you enjoyed learning a bit about one of Japan's most famous winter illumination festivals!
Until next time!
