1. Before the invention of the electric light bulb, candles (hosoi rosoku) were used for centuries to light dark places. When do you burn candles, and for what purpose?
2. The Egyptians may have been the first civilization to use candles, though they were constructed from reeds, had no wick, and more closely resembled what we now call a torch (taimatsu). Have you ever seen the torch ceremony for the Olympics? When was the last time an Olympic torch-bearer came through Japan?
3. Earliest Japanese and Chinese candles were thought to be molded in paper tubes with a wax made from an insect known as a "Cocus" mixed with seeds from various trees. What other valuable material is made from insects?*
4. In Western culture, the Romans were thought to have invented the wick candle, with a piece of string or fiber running down the middle of the candle. Have you ever studied Roman history? What other things are the Romans famous for?
5. The Romans used a fuel called tallow to make candles, which was made with the fat from cows and sheep. Unfortunately, tallow candles produced a lot of black, bad-smelling smoke when they were burned. Have you ever accidentally burned something in your house that produced a lot of smoke? Do you have a smoke detector?
6. As Buddhism spread throughout Japan, candles made of wax extracted from tree nuts were used in the Buddhist temples. Candles also came from abroad, but were very expensive. What time of year are candles used most in Japan? What ceremonies involve burning candles?
7. In Europe’s Middle Ages, beeswax was taken from bee hives and used to make very high-quality candles. The wax burned cleanly, and smelled of honey. Unfortunately, they were also very expensive, so only rich people could afford them. Have you ever burned beeswax candles? Do you like the smell of beeswax?
8. Colonial women offered America's first contribution to candle making when they discovered that boiling the grayish green berries of bayberry bushes (the leaves of this bush are called gekkeiju no ha) produced a sweet-smelling wax that burned clean. However, extracting the wax from the bayberries took a lot of time and work. Do you ever use bay leaves for cooking, or bay rhum for after shave? Do you like the smell of bay?
9. Back in Japan, after the Edo period, raising wax trees was promoted and candles were manufactured domestically. Nanao was blessed with natural port and was the port of call for kitamae ships. Nanao Japanese candles were marketed by water ways as far as Kyushuu and Tohoku. Have you ever been to Nanao? What other products is Nanao famous for?
10. In the 18^th Century, the growth of the whaling (kujira) industry provided another fuel for making candles. Oil from the sperm whale was crystallized (kesho suru) into a hard, clean-burning wax. What other uses were there for whale oil?
11. Ikarikei are Japanese Buddhist meditation candles of slender base diameter and flaring increasingly towards the top in a cone shape. Ancient Western candles were also made in a cone shape, and in fact, we get the word "taper" (hosoku naru) from the shape of these early candles. Have you ever heard of candles being called "tapers" before?
12. Bokei are another style of Japanese Buddhist candle that maintains an even diameter the length of the candle. Have you seen these two types of Japanese candles?
13. During the 19th century there were many advances in Western candle making. In 1834 for example, inventor Joseph Morgan introduced a machine which allowed continuous production of molded candles. Do you keep candles in your house in case the electricity goes out at night? Or do you prefer a flashlight for that purpose?
14. In 1850 the production of paraffin wax made from oil and coal began. Processed by distilling the residues left after crude petroleum (sekiyu) was refined, the bluish-white wax was found to burn cleanly, and with no unpleasant odor. It was also relatively inexpensive compared to other candle fuels. How many other products made from petroleum can you think of?
15. Paraffin wax was a great candle fuel, but it had a very low melting point, meaning that the candles would get soft and pliable (shinayaka) in very hot weather. Luckily, it was found that by adding a chemical called stearic acid, the paraffin wax candles would remain hard. Have you ever used paraffin-based wax for waxing a pair of skis or a surf board?
16. While western candles are made from paraffin wax and finished in white, modern Japanese candles are often somewhat yellowish as they use vegetable wax. How expensive are Japanese candles? Are beeswax candles also available in Japan? How does their price compare?
17. Many Japanese candles are manufactured in Ishikawa Prefecture. Have you ever been there? What else is this part of Japan famous for?
18. Warosoku are Japanese candles. The wax of warosoku is formed from hazenoki, the sumac or wax tree. Have you seen one of these trees? If so, can you describe what it looks like?
19. The wick of these Japanese candles is made of washi (Japanese rice paper) rather than string. What are some other uses of washi?
20. Today, metal and wood molds are used to shape warusoku. Many years ago, however, the wax was shaped by hand around igusa (rush grass) pith and paper wicks. Where does igusa usually grow? Did you know it was used for making candles?
21. Warosoku provide warm candlelight, and comprise one of the three elements of simple Buddhist ceremonies of meditation and reverence. The other two elements include incense (ko) and flowers (hana). Do you know anyone who is Buddhist? How often do they hold these meditation ceremonies?
22. When do people burn incense in Japan? Have you ever witnessed a traditional Japanese incense ceremony?
23. Scented (kaori) candles are very popular in the US, but often the perfumes used are very strong-smelling. Do you prefer scented or unscented candles? What is your favorite scent for candles?
24. Ceremonies of light, flower and scent, date back to the sixth century in Japan. What other ceremonies with these things can you think of? Are they still practiced today?
25. In 1879, Thomas Edison introduced a new technology for producing light: the light bulb. These quickly replaced candles as a source of light, but at the turn of the century, candles again became popular, and are to this day. How many light bulbs would you guess you have in your home?
26. Candles often associated with romance, celebration and ceremony. In the US, it is traditional to use candles on birthday cakes. Children have one candle on their birthday cake for every year of their age. Are birthdays also celebrated with cakes and candles in Japan?
27. A candle holder with holes for many candles is called a candelabra. They are often made of silver, and are used as a table setting for fancy meals. What kind of decorative candle holders are used for Japanese candles?
28. Oil lamps were also used for centuries to bring light to dark places. Like candles, they were made with a wick surrounded by an oil-based fuel. In Arab countries, olive oil was used in lamps, which were usually made of brass or bronze. Were oil lamps ever used in Japan? What kind of oil is plentiful in Japan?
29. Lanterns (kantera) were first introduced from China to Japan during the Asuka period. They were once only used to light the entry way of Buddhist temples, but later became popular for lighting Japanese gardens and tea houses. Is there a traditional Japanese garden near your home? What style of lanterns does it have?
30. Paper lanterns are also used for Japanese festivals, celebrations, and sometimes memorials. At the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, on August 6, 2001, paper lanterns will be floated down the Motoyasu River as part of a prayer for world peace. Have you ever been to the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima?

*Silk.

1. Children’s Nursery Rhyme: "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick."

2. He’s been working too hard lately, burning the candle at both ends.

3. We had to work all night, burning the midnight oil.

4. With all this work, I’m getting really burned out.

5. When we mentioned dinner, you could see her eyes light up.