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The cherry blossoms have fallen and scattered and the riverside before my eyes grows over in a mixture of shades of green. The smells of new green leaves and the scent of spring coming to an end rides on the breeze. It is a rare Sunday with no work or business trips, just fine weather. As I was watching the surface of the water along the Sumida River, I heard a little voice “Have you forgotten about your Detective Note?” So pitiful, I can`t even remember the last time I wrote a Detective Note…. So, I apologize and I have decided to write down a few simple thoughts. The topic this time is the chemistry between twilight and an oil lamp. Before my trip to Vietnam last week, I took a few pictures in my rooftop garden. Just as I was lighting an oil lamp for the dinner table, across the river, the evening sky was a beautiful gradation in the full blue moment. At my house, we like to enjoy the start of the evening with drinks and appetizers outside, then come in for the main dish. I don`t think I even need to explain how great this slow, relaxing and rambling time before the main course feels. Alfresco dining with a slight breeze and the last light of the day is the best. Imagine the orange flame of an oil lamp against the backdrop of this clear blue…

2018/07/21-07/22 Yumi Honda + Simeng Huang + Noriko Higashi This tour was planned to make up for last year’s U-turn over Hachijo-jima. We took a chartered bus from Tokyo to Achi Village in Nagano Prefecture, which has been selected as the village with the most beautiful starry skies in Japan. A total of 15 participants enjoyed the summer stars and sun. Waiting to see the stars at Heaven’s Sonohara ■The Starry Sky as a Tourist Resource Even on a bright night with strong moonlight, the number of stars was completely different from what you would see in a city People lying down on the mountaintop, waiting A guided commentary on the stars using a laser pointer Tsumago-juku, the 42nd post town on the Nakasendo trail. A sight unique to the mountains: a roof thatched with wood and held down with stones The waki-honjin’s irori-bata and high windows. The seat for the head of the household is in the foreground A nostalgic streetscape This “Achi Village Starry Sky Tour” was devised as a way to attract tourists back to Hirugami Onsen—which had been popular until the time of the Aichi Expo—by using the ski resort during the summer. While reading an interesting article on the bus, we, the Lighting Detectives members, learned that the event, which was started by villagers about five years ago, has now become a year-round attraction. With that in mind, we headed from Tokyo to the western…

Singapore Archifest 20252025.07.18 Josephine Kwan As part of the annual architecture festival in Singapore, Archifest 2025 invited us to host a special Lighting Detectives session in the East Coast.The Katong–Joo Chiat district, celebrated for its rich history, heritage, vibrant food scene, and evolving lifestyle, became our exploration ground. ■ IntroductionWith a total of thirty participants comprising both industry professionals and those from outside the field, we embarked on two routes to uncover the night time charm of this Peranakan cultural enclave — a place whose unique character and timeless beauty continue to capture the hearts of many. ■ History of Katong-Joo Chiat DistrictIn the early 20th century, members of the wealthy Peranakan community began moving out of the crowded city areas such as Telok Ayer, Ann Siang, and Tanjong Pagar. They sought peaceful, more spacious suburban residences in the East Coast — particularly in Katong-Joo Chiat — where land was more affordable and the sea was close by. In Katong-Joo Chiat, Peranakans built rows of houses and shophouses featuring distinctive Peranakan architectural details: intricate façade tiles, vibrant colours, ornate wood carvings, and floral motifs. Many of these homes served a dual purpose — both as family residences and as small businesses, such as beadwork ateliers, bakeries, and houseware shops. As more Peranakan families settled in, Katong-Joo Chiat blossomed into a thriving cultural enclave. Temples, kopitiams (coffeeshops), tailors, and food vendors reflected the vibrant Nyonya traditions, while festivals, weddings, and rituals…

Date of Issue: December 15, 2022・Activity 1/ Kaoru Mende/ Lighting Design Workshop 2022 (2022.09.17-19) Kaoru Mende/ Lighting Design Workshop 2022 3-day Student Workshop2022.09.17-19 Noriko Higashi We held a three-day introductory workshop on lighting design, where professional designers from LPA shared their expertise. A total of 23 university students participated, making it a highly intensive program. Although some students were initially reserved, through city walks, group discussions, and social gatherings, they gradually built friendships, learned to respect each other’s opinions, perspectives, and styles of expression, and created a positive atmosphere that led to a fruitful experience. While Lighting Detectives’ activities have been restricted due to COVID-19, we are even more concerned about the limited opportunities for children and students to experience things that can only be done at their age. In particular, lighting design requires going to actual sites to observe and experience lighting firsthand, which is an essential first step. We carefully considered how to conduct a workshop that could communicate the importance of lighting design and the value of firsthand experiences, even during the pandemic, and were finally able to hold it over the September holiday weekend. (Noriko Higashi) ■Purpose of the WorkshopI once taught lighting design-related courses for about ten years at several universities, including the Department of Design at Tokyo University of the Arts, the Department of Architecture at the University of Tokyo, and the Department of Spatial Design at Musashino Art University. Each school had a…

Lighting for Vechicle Interviewer:　Hikaru Kimura Kimura：Today I`d like to talk about interior lighting for transportation. I really like all forms of transportation, but I especially love to drive cars. Mr. Mende： Are you the type that takes on a different personality when they drive? Kimura：No, I`m not a speed demon. I`m the type that tries to lull all the passengers to sleep with my driving. Do you like to drive? Mr. Mende：I`d rather be a passenger than the driver. I don`t drive a lot now, but if you asked me to, my driving is really careful, on a professional level, as a chauffeur. But when I first got my license as a student, I thought I was the greatest and did some dangerous driving. Kimura：You had some rebellious days, too!! However, I`ve always thought of a car as not just a means of transportation, but a moving room. Even though I strongly feel this way, I still have no acceptable answer for car interior lighting. Mr. Mende：For the driver, interior lighting is virtually unnecessary, except when checking the dials. Kimura：Maybe so. However, there are two reasons why I chose this topic today. The first reason, I recently was able to drive a bus. Inside the bus, there were chandeliers and wall mounted brackets, all dimmable from the driver`s seat. Mr. Mende： Regular city buses don`t have dimmable fixtures. Kimura：No they don`t. I rented a charter bus. Up until now I…