#Japan #Tokyo #Marine Project #Lighthouse Culture #Sweet Experiences

Exploring the Sea through Sweets: The 'Traveling Lighthouse Parfait' Exhibition

From November 1 to 8, 2025, the 'Traveling Lighthouse Parfait' exhibition took place at the SOCIAL ISSUE GALLERY 'SIGNAL' in Minato, Tokyo. Organized by the Ocean Cultural Creation Forum, this event is part of the 'Sea and Lighthouse Week 2025' campaign, run by the Nippon Foundation as part of their 'Sea and Japan Project'. The exhibition aims to promote a connection between people through the sea and to pass on a rich and beautiful ocean to future generations.

A Innovative Sweet Experience Inspired by Lighthouses

Japan is home to around 3,000 lighthouses, each with its own unique story shaped by its design, light color, and location. The exhibition featured a creative approach to represent lighthouses through taste, offering five different types of Lighthouse Parfaits. Each parfait was crafted as an 'edible art' based on three defining principles:

Lighthouse-shaped glass - Parfaits are layered in tall glasses reminiscent of lighthouses.
Mounding as mountains - Ingredients represent the shape of a lighthouse beacon.
* Lens decoration - Sparkling materials are added to mimic the brilliance of a lighthouse lens.

The Kanonzaki Lighthouse Parfait, for instance, layers blue curaçao jelly and milk pudding to visually express the 'sea and light' with a striking blue and white contrast. The transparent jelly looks as if it captures the shine of the horizon.

The Kamoi Cape Lighthouse Parfait, on the other hand, features mascarpone cream and coffee jelly, layered in black and white to reflect the lighthouse's striped appearance and accompanied by syrup that mirrors the beautiful ocean color known as 'Shakotan Blue'.

In addition to these, other parfaits representing Hiyoriyama Lighthouse, Omaezaki Lighthouse, and Cape Muroto made up a total of five unique parfaits, each narrating the distinctive story of five regional lighthouses.

Engaging Experiences for Visitors

Those who ordered parfaits received a special bromide with an AR acrylic stand (produced by FanTop), while advance reservation holders were gifted limited stickers. Social media was flooded with photos of the parfaits and the venue, popularizing the concept of 'tasting lighthouses'.

The exhibition welcomed 119 attendees over its run, serving a total of 170 parfaits. Approximately 70% of the guests were women, primarily aged in their 20s to 40s. Visitors expressed their amazement with comments like, 'I felt my heart lit up at first glance' and 'The flavors painted a picture of the lighthouse scenery', highlighting a newfound interest in lighthouse culture.

In conjunction with the parfaits, the exhibition also showcased the structure, history, and community connections of lighthouses. Information panels explained the locations and characteristics of the five featured lighthouses from Hokkaido's Kamoi Cape Lighthouse, Hiyoriyama Lighthouse, Kanagawa's Kanonzaki Lighthouse, Shizuoka's Omaezaki Lighthouse, and Kochi's Cape Muroto. The setup allowed visitors to 'taste' the stories behind the lighthouses.

Additionally, there was an immersive experience via collaboration with the anthropomorphic lighthouse project 'The Light Keeper'. This included a listening corner where guests could hear audio dramas and photo spots with characters, providing a multi-sensory journey into the world of lighthouses.

On November 2, a live recording of 'Lighthouse Radio' featuring voice actor Sōnosuke Hattori, who plays Nagaoka Kanaya in 'The Light Keeper', was held. Over the following days, various guest speakers participated in discussion sessions, sharing their perspectives on lighthouses.

Future Directions for Lighthouse Parfaits

Toru Sato from SIGNING Corporation, who was responsible for the parfait's concept and design, remarked, 'We aimed to balance flavor and design by using local ingredients that reflect the colors and motifs of each lighthouse. We hope that enjoying these parfaits inspires visitors to reflect on these regions and perhaps visit the lighthouses.'

Producer Hikaru Takada of 'The Light Keeper' reflected on the project, saying, 'We prepared this exhibition to familiarize guests with the motifs of each lighthouse through tasting, displays, and audio experiences, hoping that these lighthouses could become travel destinations for attendees.'

The Ocean Cultural Creation Forum aims for the 'Traveling Lighthouse Parfait' exhibition to inspire regions with their own lighthouses to develop unique 'lighthouse parfaits' that promote local seas and cultures through sweets. The established 'three conditions for lighthouse parfaits' serve as a guideline for creating original parfaits, marrying the shapes, lights, and sea colors of lighthouses with regional identities, fostering new stories surrounding these coastal landmarks.

Event Overview

Title: 'Traveling Lighthouse Parfait' Exhibition
Dates: November 1 (Lighthouse Memorial Day) - November 8, 2025
Organizer: Ocean Cultural Creation Forum
Venue: SOCIAL ISSUE GALLERY 'SIGNAL', 1-2-11 Toranomom, Minato, Tokyo

For more information, visit the Ocean Cultural Creation Forum's website: Ocean Cultural Creation Forum.