Mabi Reconstruction Bamboo Lanterns 2019 (December 13, 2019 - January 12, 2020) ~ Warm light illuminates the future of Mabi.

A year and a half since the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.

Can you still vividly remember the day of the disaster?

Amidst this, the number of disaster victims who have managed to rebuild their lives and are gradually regaining their pre-disaster daily routines is increasing.

On December 13, 2019 (Friday), in hopes of the recovery of Mabi, which suffered particularly severe flooding damage, the Mabi Community Center was illuminated.

This event, named Mabi Recovery Bamboo Lanterns, will be held until January 12, 2020 (Sunday), spanning the New Year.

Reporter "Miniko" from Kuratoco, who has never visited post-disaster Mabi, will report on the Mabi Recovery Bamboo Lanterns 2019!

What are the "Mabi Recovery Bamboo Lanterns"?

The "Mabi Recovery Bamboo Lanterns" is an illumination event planned by the Mabi Funao Chamber of Commerce as a "symbol of disaster recovery."

The lighting hours are from 5 PM to 10 PM.

Mabi is famous for its delicious bamboo shoots.

The impressive bamboo used for the illumination is also produced in Mabi, with about 300 pieces of various sizes.

The bamboo has many round holes drilled into it, and LED bulbs illuminate the night from within.

The lighting ceremony was held from 5 PM on December 13, 2019, and it is said that Kurashiki City Mayor Kaori Ito also participated.

The parking lot is located right in front of the entrance to the Mabi Community Center, and it is less than a one-minute walk to the symbol tree.

It is a shared parking lot with the Mabi Library, accommodating up to 426 vehicles, and parking is free.

The scars of flooding and the beautiful tree

The top of the tallest symbol tree is 4.5 meters above the ground.

In the summer of 2018, when the heavy rain disaster occurred in July, the Kurashiki City Mabi Branch was flooded to the same height as the top of the symbol tree.

You can feel Mabi's determination to "not let the memories of the past fade and to promote disaster-resistant town development from now on."

Inside the tree, many circular decorations made of bamboo are hung, making it very unique.

Among the visitors, some were looking up at the circular decorations while passing under the illuminated tree that beautifully colors the night in Mabi.

By looking up, it may be a mechanism to realize the height of the flooding point.

The author was also shocked, thinking, "I can't believe the water came up this high at that time..." and decided to keep in mind the terror of the flooding.

On the other hand, there were impressions that the connected bamboo rings and their shapes evoke the image of recovery, as if they are walking hand in hand.

Around the tree, bamboo objects shone in red, blue, and green, and orange lights resembling candle flames enveloped the area, making it so beautiful that one could forget the cold.

Conclusion

I hope that the "Mabi Recovery Bamboo Lanterns" will attract not only the locals living in Mabi but also people from other regions.

I want them to be healed by the soft light of the bamboo lanterns, and I believe that by actually visiting Mabi, they can think about the disaster.

I myself visited post-disaster Mabi for the first time and was made to think about how the disaster victims have been living over the past year and a half.

The entrance to the Mabi Community Center, the event venue, faces Prefectural Road 278.

The large symbol tree can be seen from the road, but if you have time, please park your car and take a good look at it.

However, it is very cold outdoors!

If the "Mabi Recovery Bamboo Lanterns" are held again in the winter of 2020, please make sure to dress warmly with coats and blankets.

Data on Mabi Recovery Bamboo Lanterns 2019

Name	Mabi Recovery Bamboo Lanterns 2019
Dates	December 13, 2019 (Friday) to January 12, 2020 (Sunday)
Location	40-1 Ayata, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Participation Fee (including tax)	Free

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