Interview with Yoshitake Takada

Yoshitake Takada is the representative director of Light up Nippon. A post graduate in Marine mammology from the university of Tokyo, Takada works in an ad firm in Japan. 

He founded the Light up Nippon project following the Great East Japan earthquake. In August 2011, he organized simultaneous display of fireworks at 11 different earthquake stricken places in the Tohoku region. As the people of Japan started at the illuminated sky they together prayed for the deceased. 

What was the idea and motivation behind this project?

I work for an ad company in Tokyo. I was looking for some way to contribute to the restoration and recovery from the tsunami in 2011. Food, clothing and money was contributed by all. I heard of the news of the cancellation of the biggest fireworks in Tokyo. I thought I must do something for these fireworks to get to Tohoku- to act as a requiem for the deceased.  Japan has a long history of fireworks being organized as a memorial for the dead. I decided to continue with that tradition.

What was the reaction of the affected community in Tohoku to these fireworks?

Thousands of people came together to watch these fireworks. Children were happy and some adults cried thinking of the dead. In the moment they stood and stared at the sky, thinking of the dead, their minds become one.

What was the biggest challenge for you to accomplish this arduous task?

Getting the finances is the only problem. Local people want to continue and contribute to this project. In a few years Light up Nippon might be a project that the local people are able to organize on their own.

What are the plans for the first anniversary of the disaster?

This year we will be able to plough more contributions because of the first anniversary aspect. We plan to introduce musical events to entertain the people and get more sponsors.

Lastly, what made you come to India to talk about Light up Nippon?

Japan Foundation was one of our main sponsors and coming to India has connected Japanese living in Japan as well as Indian who empathize with the Japanese tragedy with the Japanese living in Japan. The meaning of fireworks in Japan is a requiem or tribute to the dead. It is very different in India where fireworks are associated with happy celebrations. I hope the context of the project is understood in India.