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Jiyugaoka Night Walk Review2018/04/16　　Mikine Yamamoto + Noriko Higashi Jiyugaoka is a popular town, even in Tokyo. It was totally worth the hype. It was bustling with many people during our Night Walk Survey. This time, with “style” as our theme, did each team manage to discover a stylish street? 24 people met on the second floor of LPA for a Night Walk Survey review We reviewed the Jiyugaoka Night Walk Survey that was held on April 6. The theme of the survey was “Find the Stylish Street.” Was Jiyugaoka’s night scene as stylish as we had imagined? We announced the best stylish street chosen by each team, from A to D, who were separated for the Night Walk. Highlights from a Presentation A presentation of the compiled impressions and opinions from the Night Walk Survey by each team The presentation materials show great ingenuity It was a pleasant gathering while having light meals The cobblestone and brick-style streets, which are often seen in Jiyugaoka, look stylish and create a fashionable atmosphere without any extra effort compared to streets paved with asphalt. We heard comments that the streetlights on these streets used shades that directed light only downwards, which was likely done to prevent glare and light pollution, showing consideration for pedestrians.In general, Jiyugaoka’s streetlights have a high color temperature, while the light spilling from the shops is often low in color temperature. Although there was a difference in color temperature,…

Ever seen a sign that says “No Double-Dipping”? These days you don’t see them as much, but you used to find them in the立ち食い (tachigui – standing eat) kushiage (deep-fried skewer) shops in the old downtown areas of Osaka. You’d be chugging down cheap booze like “Poppy” or “Bakudan” while watching piping hot skewers get fried right in front of you. Then, you’d dunk the whole skewer into a shallow, enamel bowl of watery Worcestershire sauce and devour it in one go. I hear this is the original Osaka-style kushiage culture. The “no double-dipping” rule means you absolutely cannot dip a skewer back into the sauce once it’s touched your mouth. Of course, there’s a huge variety of kushiage ingredients. I’m a big fan of this kind of place, so whenever I went to Osaka on business in the old days, I’d often soak in this atmosphere by myself. These kushiage joints always have a pile of shredded cabbage for all you can eat, but it’s funny – there are hardly any soft leaves, mostly just the hard core and the bits around it. And it’s surprisingly good! You take a big bite of a sauce-covered skewer and immediately follow it with a crunchy mouthful of cabbage. That textural contrast is just so satisfying. But seriously, where do all the soft cabbage leaves disappear to? I’ve been going to Osaka quite a bit for the past five or six years….

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…

Kisyamichi Promonade, Yokohama 14 November 2008 Light Up Ninja Yokohama Team on initial survey fieldwork trip. Voluteers and staff hard at work on the day of the event. Underwater lighting revealed pretty clear Yokohama Bay waters! Lanterns placed over existing bollards along the promenade were a little too delicate for the surrounding lighting environment. Three different features of the Light Up Ninja experiment. LED luminaries fit inside the bridge trusses illuminate the metal framework. Using different colored lighting, the bridge structure has been turned into a work of art. Group Photo. Good Work, everyone! Yokohama is a city blessed with a rich waterfront. The interwoven contrast of water and urbanscape creates a unique charm that attracts many visitors. However, Yokohama at night is in complete contrast with the dark waters creating a barrier in the lightscape. In cooperation with the City of Yokohama Department of Urban Design, Light Up Ninja focused on the relationship of water-people-light to create appeal in the Yokohama waterfront. Light Up Ninja Project Go! The three-man team of Yamamoto, Yano, and I, Itakura, were in charge of this Light Up Ninja project and we decided to move our feet, early, with some initial fieldwork in May. We had no idea what kind of undiscovered charm could be found in the city, but rented bicycles to cover as much area as possible. (and paid for it the next day!!) Exploring Yokohama The journey took us under the…

Date of Issue: March 31, 2025・Activity 1/ City Night Survey: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia（2024.10.01-05） City Night Survey: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia2024.10.01-10.05 Atsushi Itakura & Genki Watanabe When thinking of Mongolia, many people may imagine vast grasslands and nomadic gers, but therapidly developing capital city of Ulaanbaatar also deserves attention.Despite being only about five and a half hours from Japan, few people are familiar with its currentstate.This visit, conducted through an urban lighting survey of Ulaanbaatar, provided a valuableopportunity to discover an unexpected side of Mongolia. ■What Kind of Place Is Mongolia?When we think of Mongolia, the first image that often comes to mind is of vast grasslands stretching out endlessly, dotted with “gers”—the traditional dwellings of nomadic herders. For Japanese people, there’s also a sense of connection through cultural and historical ties, such as the shared heritage linked to the Mongolian spot (mongolian birthmark) and the many Mongolian sumo wrestlers who have found great success in Japan. Despite being only a five-and-a-half-hour flight away from Japan, Mongolia is a country that feels both near and distant—close in proximity, yet far in familiarity. Though we may feel an affinity toward Mongolia, the reality is that most people know very little about its present state. With this simple curiosity as our starting point, we embarked on a 5-day, 4-night survey of urban lighting in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of this rapidly developing nation. ■Topographical Characteristics of Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar covers an area of approximately 4,700 square kilometers and…