Under the slogan of "Turn off your lights, and take it slow," Candle Night started on June 22, 2003. This voluntary participatory event was originally initiated by several Japan's environmental non governmental organizations.

Responding to calls from the Candle Night committee, various groups such as the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) of Japan, businesses, municipal governments and public facilities as well as artists in a variety of fields across Japan showed support for the event.

Promotores of Candle Night

Shinichi Tsuji Anthropologist, Professor at Meiji Gakuin University
http://www.sloth.gr.jp/tsuji/index.html
Kazuyoshi Fujita President of Daichi-O-Mamoru-Kai, The Association to Preserve the Earth
http://www.daichi.or.jp/
Miyako Maekita Sustena
http://www.sustena.org/
Shinichi Takemura Anthropologist, Professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design
http://www.elp.or.jp/index.html
Junko Edahiro Co-Chief Executive of Japan for Sustainability
http://www.japanfs.org/index.html
Wahei Tatematsu Author

Kaoru Mende Lighting Designer, Professor at Musashino Art University
http://www.lighting.co.jp/english/index.html
Hirokazu Kometani Chief Executive of Slow Society Association
http://www2.memenet.or.jp/slowsociety/