Alumnae of the training course of full-time teachers for nursing education had attended the general assembly of the Japanese Nursing Association in 1951. In May of the same year, at the Women’s College of the Japanese Red Cross Society they held discussions on the problems facing nursing. The establishment of the National Nursing Education Research Institute originated in a lecture meeting for nursing education held in July of 1951.

The National Nursing Education Research Institute published its inaugural newsletter in September of 1952. The first three issues of the newsletter used the “Candle and Candlestick” as an illustration.

A commemorative ceremony of the Institute’s 30th anniversary was held in 1981, and a commemorative gift was given to participants, a paperweight featuring the design of the “Candle and Candlestick” (middle and right images below). Since then, this design has become the symbol mark of the Institute and has been used for the newsletter from the 62nd issue published on 25 October 1981, familiar to all members.

The National Nursing Education Research Institute marked the 81st issue of its newsletter in March 1991, and celebrated the 40th anniversary of its establishment. On this occasion, too, the Institute decided to prepare a gift with the same design to commemorate the 40th anniversary. The gift was a bookmarker carrying the “Candle and Candlestick” design (left image below).

The “Candle and Candlestick” design was carried over as the symbol mark of the newly born Japan Academy of Nursing Education.