Kobe Luminarie

When the Great Hanshin earthquake struck Kobe on January 17, 1995, it left more than 6,000 dead and caused $100 billion in damages. Since many had to live in darkness due to supply cuts in electricity, gas, and water, the idea of putting up lights acted as a symbol of hope, recovery, and renovation. The event was resumed in January 2024, in a change to its usual December schedule. Rather than its previous centralised displays, the 2024 festival's displays were dispersed over multiple sites in Kobe, with the large "Galleria" and "Frontone" displays forming a paid-entry area in Merikan Park. Tohoku Initiative In the 2011 Luminarie, the same year as the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, a special exhibition was held to raise money for its victims. In the 2012 luminarie, drawings by children from that region were used to make lanterns displayed at the event. == Tourist attraction ==

The Hanshin earthquake left Kobe at a slump with tourist attractions. One of the factors that brought tourism back to Kobe was the sincerity of the Luminarie event in honoring the victims of the earthquake. The event attracts around 4 million people to Kobe every year and raises $1.3 million in donations and $6.1 million in sponsorship and merchandise sales. The table below indicates the number of people attending the Luminarie event each year since 2004. The luminarie also has numerous sponsors. The following are just a few of the tens of dozens of sponsors for 2012; • JR West • Hankyu Corporation • Nestle Group Japan • Hanshin Electric Railway Co • TOA (shares) • Kadokawa Magazine Ltd. • Sysmex Ltd ==See also==