The "3.11 Memorial Candlelight" event, in which candles are lit to mourn the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, was held on March 8, 2025, in Mukaijima New Town, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City. Evacuees from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident quietly put their hands together in prayer for reconstruction and a peaceful life.
The event was organized by the "Smile Connection Association," made up of evacuees living in the Mukaijima district, and an executive committee made up of local residents, and this was the 13th time it has been held. About 120 people gathered from around 6 p.m., and for the first time in six years, they lit about 400 candles arranged in the shape of "3.11."
After attaching strips of paper with messages such as "cherish each day" and "I hope those who are missing can return home soon" to the candles, they held the candle-like lights in their hands and prayed in silence. There was also a chorus of palm flutes and ukulele performances to reflect on the earthquake disaster.
A visually impaired man (71 years old) who is living in the area and was affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake and evacuated from Suzu city, Ishikawa prefecture, said, "I was affected by the disaster as a disabled person and was full of anxiety, but I am nothing but grateful for everyone I met." A woman (58 years old) who is the representative of the Tsunagarou group and evacuated from Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture, said, "On March 11, my life was a matter of life and death. As someone who suffered the damage caused by the nuclear power plant, I find the promotion of nuclear power to be a shame. I hope that this day will also be a day to think about the future of not only Fukushima, but this country as well."
