THIS year marks the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Canberra, Australia and Nara, Japan.

The Canberra Nara Festival will mark the occasion with a celebration of Japanese culture and more than 2000 candles at Nara Peace Park in Lennox Gardens on November 4.

The festival began in 2003, as a tribute to the sister city relationship between the two cities on its 10th anniversary.

This year’s event will be attended by the Mayor of Nara, Gen Nakagawa, the Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency, Kazuhiro Suzuki, and students from Nara University High School who will ring the peace bell and light ceremonial candles.

The official signing of the proclamation of a Canberra Nara Sister City relationship occured in Nara on October 26, 1993.

This year’s festival will feature various displays, performances and activities celebrating Japanese art, culture and delicious food.