Yesterday, even so cold 6°C specially in Osaka Japan almost like February, "Osaka Hikari Renaissance 2009" was so crowded.....with over 2 million attendants, I heard. To confess the truth as a blowing own horn, This project was original produced by myself in 2002 as "Midosuji Hikari Renaissance".
In those days, Osaka City Government was worried about "Midosuji Illumination" along Midosuji, main boulevard in Osaka. Because it was beautiful, but has no place where the attendance could enjoy watching, eating...etc, only illumination along the street. And also there had big problem about the dirty side of..... And then, I was appointed as the general producer of the renewal project. Therefore I constructed and proposed the quite new concept, to have festive events around city hall in Nakanoshima Island, looked like "Île de la Cité" in Paris. And my master plan was bit "tricky" that several main events were produced by own Executive Committee as holder, and to gather joint auspices to want to join under the unified concept "Illumination renaissance for reborn of 'Vital Osaka City'". Because of this method, it looks more bigger project as actual budget itself.
Nevertheless in 2002 as the first year, of course it was so difficult to gather such joint auspices because of unknown project then. And also... even the holder side itself, Osaka City Government and Police Dept.... were very high wall for me to have new events at the public space out side. Never make sounds!, never blinking lights on the road!.....never either even putting up "notice sign board" of the lighting ceremony around city hall!!. And I never forgot that "Maintenance and Works Dept. of City Hall" called me, "We would like to put off the Illuminations!!... because so many attendants gathered at City Hall!!... City Hall is not such a place to show on!!!" ??? What are we doing now?? .... In those days, City Government of Osaka never think to have such a matter around own city hall.But, but in 209, what a surprise!! City Hall had "Cafe to serve alcohol drink" in it's lobby ... it was so popular!! It's completely and so magnificent changing of City Government. Spending 7-8 years is so valuable.
However more than that, I think it was the dedicated efforts of Executive Committee Office members, especially staff of Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.,. From 2003, they have been working to try enlarge the project year by year.
At last, over 3 million attendants were gathered during period. Even it's pity that my own event,"THE WORLD LINKIG TREE form NORWAY -symbol of Peace, Love and Friendship" in front of City Hall has gone from this year because of several reasons, I'm so grateful for all the staff of the project.
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