ROCKET NEWS



Tokyo Skytree has a brilliant light display in store for four days only, and it’s designed to represent three of Japan’s signature dishes: tamago kake gohan (egg with rice), o-nabe (Japanese hot pot), and takikomi gohan (seasoned steamed rice).

The special light-up show, which runs from 20–24 November, is being held to coincide with “Washoku No Hi” (Japanese Meal Day) on November 24. Washoku No Hi aims to shine a light on traditional Japanese meals every year and now it’s doing it with a spectacular illuminated show from the world’s tallest tower.
 

• Takikomi Gohan (Seasoned Steamed Rice)

This display features a ‘base’ of golden hues from the top, middle and bottom of the tower, to symbolise the colour of the rice after it’s soaked up the juices from the main ingredients of the dish. Those main ingredients, mushrooms and chestnuts, are represented in orange and reddish-brown hues, with light-green representing the garnish on top.



▼ The middle portion of the base (marked with yellow arrows below) will feature the colours of Takikomi Gohan alongside a cascading display of orange lights which represent the falling leaves of autumn, a time when this dish is usually eaten.


 

• O-Nabe (Japanese Hot Pot)

This design uses a white illumination from the top, middle and base parts of the tower to resemble the bubbling clear broth, while the light green and emerald green colours represent the Chinese cabbage and leeks. Carrots also make an appearance with a layer of orange.



▼ The cascading light display will feature sparkling white lights falling like snowflakes in winter, when this dish is most popular.


 

• Tamago Kake Gohan (Egg With Rice)

This is the most intricate light show, with seven stages taking you from the very first scoop of rice at the beginning of the dish right through to the final “Gochisosama” when you’ve finished eating the meal.



▼ From left to right: 1. White lights cascade to the base, filling up the rice bowl with white rice. 2. The raw egg is broken, sending yellow and orange lights down to sit atop the rice. 3. Sparkling drops of soy sauce are poured onto the dish. 4. A bright light appears, representing chopsticks, which then rotates around the tower to mix the ingredients.



▼ From left to right: 5. As the ‘chopsticks’ rotate around the tower, the ingredients rise and fall in a dazzling display. 6. Now the dish is ready to eat! 7. The lights gradually disappear, from top to bottom, as the meal is eaten.



The light displays will appear at roughly 30-minute intervals from 4:45 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. during the four-day period. On the Monday public holiday, the light display will finish at 9:00 p.m. If you’re in the area, be sure to raise your head and take a look—it’s bound to be the most delicious light-up Tokyo’s ever seen!