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Teaching about light Interviewer:　Sachiko Segawa It is important to be sensitive to and sense light in one`s immediate presence. A class experience on the three primary colors of light. Segawa：Today I would like to talk about “Teaching about Light.” Mende：If I`m not mistaken, you are one of my former students. Do you have an interest in education? Segawa： Yes, I do, but the number one reason I chose this topic is because I am a mother. My mother was a teacher, so when I was younger an “educator” was always an immediate presence. At home, she was always our mother, but to other children, she was the “teacher.” She always wore those two hats. I didn`t progress into the field of education, but at work, I have had to train new and part-time staff. I have come to realize that teaching somebody about light is a difficult task. You taught at Musashino Art University for 10 years. Did you find it challenging at times? Mende：I never really thought of it as challenging. My studio class was titled “Lighting Seminar,” but not everyone was motived to become a lighting designer. Maybe two or three students out of 10 wanted to be a lighting designer. The other students had different interests and motivations and I would struggle with whether it was best to teach them from a technical point of view of or sensory point of view. Segawa： I would think that…

Putrajaya has been developed as the new center for government since its functional move from the former capital Kuala Lumpur. The city planning is very representative of the nation’s authority and symbolic in nature with a very elaborate lighting plan in progress. This main road is a prime example of the sense of authority this city invokes. Its symmetrical design and point of view are very important aspects. The lighting methods and luminance levels are also very detailed and divided by function. View of the office of the Prime Minister and Putra Mosque in the center of Putrajaya. The lighting for this Islamic style of architecture reflects in the water and tints it blue for a fantasy like nightscape. The center of Putrajaya is built around a man-made lake, making bridges an integrate part of city life. Many unique bridge designs are part of this urban landscape.

2025.01.08-01.11 Misuzu Nakamura + Sachiko Segawa Kitakyushu City was finally ranked No.1 in the latest “New Three Great Nightscapes of Japan” by the Night View Tourism Convention Bureau. The city has actively utilized its local assets—such as the industrial landscapes developed from the Yahata Steel Works, historic streetscapes, and a terrain of hills and bays—to enhance its nightscape. Surprisingly, this city had not yet been surveyed by the Lighting Detectives, so we set out to rediscover its unique allure. ■Learning What Makes a Compelling Nightscape Before beginning our survey, we visited Ms. Miki Matsushita, a lighting designer who has long been involved in Kitakyushu city’s nightscape—from formulating the nightscape guidelines for the Kokura city center to planning lighting for various facilities both in and outside the city. We visited her lighting design office in Fukuoka City, which felt as comfortable and refined as an art museum. There, we had the opportunity to hear a wide range of storie—from the time she spent developing the guidelines to her mindset as a lighting designer. One thing that left a lasting impression was her comment that guidelines shouldn’t become manuals, but rather serve as guidebooks. It became clear that her approach, rooted in deep empathy for the local community, allowed her to foster unique charm through the application of the guidelines in ways that reflect the distinct character of each area. (Misuzu Nakamura) ■Kokura Station Area: The Gateway to Kitakyushu and a Hub…

City Night Walk Vol.064：Skybus Tour 2019.07.26　Anri Sato+ Mutsuro Honma For our 64th Stroll about town, we explored the Tokyo Nightscape using a 2 story open roof bus: Skybus. It was a great drive around town, using Skybus’ Odaiba Nightscape course. While we started the event with some concerns about bad weather, but luckily we were able to enjoy a beautiful summer night drive. A group photo at Odaiba with the rainbow bridge behind us Skybus The Significance of the Skybus tour We started before it got dark Chief Mende-san explaining the point of the bus tour The sunset setting upon the emperor’s residence Under the theme of ‘Rediscovering the nightscape of Tokyo on the Skybus!’, our members all explored the nightscape of Tokyo from a height of 3.8m off the ground. Our route was Tokyo Station → Oukyo (Emperor’s residence) → Tokyo Tower → Shuto Highway → Rainbow Bridge → Odaiba → Shuto Highway → Rainbow Bridge → Tsukiji Market → Ginza → Hibiya → Marunouchi → Tokyo Station The lighting detectives also held the same event in 2013, but as the 2020 Olympics/Paralympics are under a year away, there are heavy development projects occurring all around Tokyo and therefore would perhaps change the nightscape of the city. We were curious to explore how the nightscape of Tokyo has changed especially after the Tsukiji market has moved completely to the Toyosu Market. The highlight of this trip is the nightscape…

Rustic scenery and relaxing daily life co-exist on Jejudo Island, where we stopped for a luxurious stay at a resort hotel. White light from fishing boats dot the horizon and clarify the boundary between the dark night sky and black ocean waters. Fishing boats dot the horizon in the bay. The light from a fish tank at a fresh fish restaurant catch the eye of pedestrians along the street. Colored spotlights cast out over the ocean waters along the Coastal Highway.