01 August 2007 Searching for Heroes and Villains of Light The Roppongi One-Mile. In a one-mile radius (1.6 km), there are over 40 embassies, 9 international schools, and National Art Center, Mori Art Museum, and Suntory Museum of Art completing a triangle of art. In the center of where world cultures and arts clash, Roppongi, Tokyo Midtown is trying to become a base for transmitting Japanese Design to the rest of the world. In this new landmark of Tokyo, Lighting Detective members went in search of Heroes and Villains of Light. See what they found in this new urban environment. Heroes and Villains …by: yuji sato My overall impression is of a typical commercial facility catering to adults with a well-balanced lighting plan. Prime example of a lighting hero is the unified appearance of the Galleria interior. Inside, simple translucent signage with black lettering gives the interior a clean-cut feeling. A single warm-colored fluorescent lamp in the bottom of the sign creates a beautiful gradation. The signs are also mounted at the perfect high, not blocked by people’s heads and all visible with one glance down the corridor. The shopping area has the feeling of a European high fashion street with most shops also using halogen lamps or similar low color temperature lamps to create a posh and unified space. The second lighting hero I`d like to recognize is the small gallery space along the large columns in the atrium….

16 February 2007 As new condominiums keep popping up everywhere, the new area of focus is the Toyosu District. Large-scale commercial facilities and a university campus also complete this “model” for new urban planning. As the cold winds of February blew, we ventured out to see what all the talk was about. by: momoko muraoka Street Lighting As we began walk from Toyosu Station, we made a conscious effort to focus on street lighting, lighting that is experienced everyday, but largely overlooked. The height and design of the lightpoles, distance between, lamp wattage, and other statistics were digested and an idea of the lighting plan for this area was beginning to form. As we walked along, Chief Mende commented on problems such as glare, which caused members to scribble furiously in their notebooks. At 5:15 pm the street lights came on and we could further see that color temperatures were different according to area, which gave us all something to ponder since this is not a normal planning scheme. Condominiums, Offices, & Shibaura Institute of Technology Because of the ongoing redevelopment in the Toyosu area there is quite a bit of open space awaiting construction and gives a clear view of the high-rise offices and condominiums in the area. Many of the buildings under construction only have a minimal amount of lights on at night. All of the extra space and no glaring lights makes of a big wide-open night…

06 October 2006 Now that the heat of the summer is over, the Lighting Detectives converged on Sankeien Garden in Yokohama to see the new harvest moon glow over traditional Japanese architecture and garden grounds and experience moonlight. Even though it turned out to be a rainy day, we were still positive that the clouds would disappear as we left for Yokohama. Survey By: Yusuke Hattori Stormy Sankeien Garden After a train and bus ride, 22 members of the Lighting Detectives arrived at Sankeien at 4:00 in the afternoon. Of the 17 architectural structures strategically placed around the garden, 12 are labeled Important Cultural Assets and were moved to the garden grounds from Kyoto, Kamakura, and other places from around Japan. The garden has a long distinguished history and in celebration of its 100th Anniversary, the garden was open to visitors at night. In the middle of our moon watching, the weather took a turn for the worse and chased everyone, but the Lighting Detectives indoors. Soaking wet from the waist down and most umbrellas blown inside out, the excitement of the storm faded and members grew weary as dusk set in and the moon came up. Plan B As Lighting Detective spirits and body temperatures started to dip, we all gathered indoors at the Kakushokaku, formally the residence of local merchants, The Hara Family, and recently renovated and restored to original state for the public’s use. The detectives ate…

28 June 2006 Survey by: Momoko Muraoka From Shinjuku to Hakone, we left Shinjuku Station one June evening on the Romance Train bound for the illumination of the beautiful hydrangea of the Hakone hills. From the Romance Train we all cramped into the small two-car train that would take us up the mountain and to the hydrangea. The hydrangeas are in full bloom throughout the month of June and color the hillsides of Hakone in various tones of blues and pinks. To keep the fun going the flowers are illuminated and flower viewing continues into the night from the windows of the small train. As the train starts out the lights are dimmed and the passengers enjoy a relaxing ride up the mountain. After arriving at the main viewing point, all the car lights are turned off and the night air is a glow with the hydrangea illumination. The small train moving through the mountain blackness was calming, but sitting in that dark train car and experiencing the lights outside was a surreal experience. At the final destination, Miyanoshita Station, the passengers are allowed off the train to view and take pictures of the flowers and lights. On the way home, various opinions of the illumination were tossed around. “When illuminated from below the light source is visible and too bright for the eye. It might be better from above?” “It was a good idea to create certain condensed areas…

20 March 2006 Redevelopment in Tokyo is at an all time high, but with big construction comes consequence. On this city walk 26 lighting detective set off on a river tour to rediscover Nihonbashi and Sumida Rivers. As more and more light is spreading throughout the city, we set out to rediscover the contrast and shadows of these closed off rivers. Survey by: Teruhiko Kubota An Artificial Darkness Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza….All places that come to mind as hot Tokyo night spots, and all places a glow in a dull brightness. All are crowded, loud, and built-up with as much lighting to match. But on this city walk along Nihonbashi and Suimda Rivers, my impression of Tokyo changed. In contrast to these areas of obnoxious light, the river ways were filled with shadows. They weren’t gloomy, dark shadows, but man-made shadows under bridges, overpasses, and highway junctions. I was pleasantly surprised to see these places left in Tokyo; especially under bridges it was pitch-dark!! Darkness and shadows don’t leave one with a warm-fuzzy impression, but this river trip awoke something in me. We go through each day and night in such brightly lit places that we might be taking dark places for granted that they will always be somewhere. After this experience on the “dark side” the main areas of Tokyo seem extremely bright. As a lighting designer, our job is to create space using light as our tool, I realized…

9 November 2005 Akihabara, home of the latest and greatest in electronic technology, is not just a place for the “otaku” any more. While the “super-nerds” scour the electronic stores for the newest gadget, urban redevelopment is re-shaping this area, trying to combine the old Akihabara with a fashionable new version. The Lighting Detectives setout this time to discover the possible direction of Akihabara`s future. Akihabara Redevelopment The detectives gathered at the entrance to the infamous Electric Town to start off on their Akihabara Adventure. Redevelopment to make Akihabara a worldwide center for the IT community is part of the concept behind Akihabara Crossroads, a new development officially awaiting its grand opening in the spring of 2006. However, one of two high-rise structures in this redevelopment, Akihabara Daibiru Building, a combination office, IT academic research, and convention center, opened its doors in the spring of 2005. From the inside wall washers gently illuminate the Daibiru Building facade and blue LED accent lighting, embedded in the entrance pavement, creates a lighting environment that is a far cry from the typical Akihabara experience up until now. Along with this new lighting environment, the opening of the Tsukuba Express and a temporary museum D-Akihabara, we caught a faint glimpse of the new Akihabara. The Yamanote Train Line platform is almost level with the second floor of the Daibiru Building, just in front of the train station. As the trains pass in and out…

12 July 2005 The best part about the Ginza Distirct is that it is mirror of present times and its trends. And just by looking at boutiques such as, Chanel, Louise Vitton, or Christian Dior, one can see that a catchy facade is the latest architectural trend. But is that all Ginza lighting is about? The Lighting Detectives wanted to find out more about the lighting environment of this trendy, but illusive commercial district in the middle of Tokyo. We split up in to 4 groups to cover five of the main streets: Ginza Avenue, Harumi Avenue, Namiki Street, Miyuki Street, and Hanatsubaki Street. Ginza Avenue While in Ginza, you can’t miss Ginza Avenue, one of the main streets of Ginza with an ever-changing face and home to fashion boutiques such as Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Opaque. The design of each boutique is sensitive to the finicky Japanese market, while trying to create a store facade that screams its own identity in this competitive era. This street is one of the busiest in the district, as shoppers are attracted to the eye-catching facade designs and on Sunday, when it is turned into a pedestrian mall. Compared to other streets in the district, we noticed that the pavement is a lighter gray and the asphalt used is of a lighter tone. Roadway reflection properties are lower along this street even though sufficient luminous levels have been secured. Harumi Avenue Harumi…

25 March 2005 With a full moon to guide us, 20 lighting detectives gathered at Kudashita Station on this early spring evening to walk around the Emperor’s Palace in search of any darkness left behind in the glaring commercialism of Tokyo. We all first trooped to Yasukuni Shrine to view the illumination of the big orange gate and from there broke off into 2 teams moving in opposite directions around the palace. The blue team worked their way towards Ohte-Machi, while the yellow team moved steadily towards the Kasumigaseki District, with the final destination the Wadakura Fountain in front of Tokyo Station. The first stop for the blue team, led by Chief of the Lighting Detectives, Kaoru Mende, was Chidorigafuchi, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo. But, unfortunately we were early in the season and only the portable light fixtures for night viewing were on display. As the team made their way towards Tokyo Station, the buildings along the perimeter seemed to have toned-down their lighting effects, as not to intrude on the privacy of their neighbors across the black moat. But on the homerun stretch towards Tokyo station, the recently redeveloped Marunouchi District stood in great contrast to the dark palace. One could stand in the same spot and view Marunouchi as one would think of Tokyo, with tall buildings and fantastic lights, and then turn on the same spot and face the dark moat, trees, and…

15 December 2004 After a 10-minute bus ride from Shinkiba Station, the Lighting Detectives found themselves at the Asahi Helicopter Heliport ready for a fantastic 8-minute flight over Tokyo. The small, 6-passenger helicopter would take us up 700 meters over Tokyo to view the nightscape along the “Night Tour: Ginza Course”, including a sweep starting at the Tokyo Heliport～Odaiba～Rainbow Bridge～Shinbashi～Ginza and lastly Tokyo Station. At \8000 per person it was a glamorous “city walk” to remember for the Lighting Detective club members. We broke up into 3 groups to board the helicopter, each team equipped with a digital camera, video camera, or still-photo camera. We were prepared to capture the nightscape in any and all forms. The sound of spinning propellers over head greeted our arrival on the launch pad. My team climbed in, fastened seat belts, put on headphones, and then we slowly began to rise off the ground. The first view after take-off was of the Tokyo Bay and Odaiba. Numerous taillights along the Bay Shore Route formed a strip of winding light and the illuminated Rainbow Bridge support columns stood out against the black bay. After viewing Odaiba, we headed into Tokyo; we could see the newly redeveloped Sio-Site, Tokyo Tower, and the illuminated Roppongi Hill’s Mori Tower in the distance. From this viewpoint we could see the composition of lights spread across the Tokyo skyline, white office lights, orange lights along the main arterial roads, and…

29 July 2004 It was a hot July evening when the 22 Lighting Detectives gathered at Hinode Pier to board the waterbus for a 50-minute tour down the Sumida River to Asakusa. It was early in the evening, just after dusk, and the lights from Odaiba, the Rainbow Bridge, the evening sky, and the bright moon helped us all forget the humid heat of Tokyo. As the boat headed down the river, like school children, the detectives moved from left to right and from the front to the back of the boat, taking in all the lights along the riverbank. One highlight of the trip towards Asakusa, are the 12 bridges that the boat will pass under, all individually designed and illuminated. The first bridge, Kachidoki Bridge, was dyed blue at the base and had a green arch against the dark sky. The next bridge, Central Bridge, was a combination of white ceramic metal halide light illuminating the top and orange high-pressure sodium light from the bottom, creating a simple gradation pattern up and down the bridge. Next on the river, the arch of Eitai Bridge was illuminated an impressive blue, well matched with the dark backdrop. Not often found in Tokyo, but darkness along the river helped to emphasize the bridge illuminations and Tokyo nightscape. The many highway ramps and bridges running across the river formed a complex 3-D network of static and interactive light. Also, in the Tokyo…

12 May 2004 The Minato Mirai Subway Line connects Yokohama Station to Yokohama China Town five stops away. Four different architects were commissioned to individually design four of the stations on this new subway line. Although all of the stations have the same structural features, the purpose of our survey was to see how each architect, from the same starting point, reacted to design a unique station in terms of materials, color, and light. Minato Mirai St. / Kunihiko Hayakawa All the stations along the line are designed with the platform on floor B3 and the ticket wicket on B2, from there you climb to ground level, but at the Minato Mirai Station the shopping center, Queen’s Square, is on the ground floor. Using this to an advantage, the main feature of this station is strategically placed atriums, making it possible to view the shopping center 3 floors up from the platform and vice versa. The openness and air circulation from the high ceilings help to create a comfortable station atmosphere. The main colors and materials of this station are red, yellow, matte silver, and blue aluminum. The colors and materials were used to form horizontal axes throughout the station, emphasizing the speed and efficiency of the subway line. The entire station is basically illuminated in white light, but a more sunlight-beach influenced color might be more appropriate for this hot date spot, popular with the younger crowd. Bashamachi St….

20 January 2004 Tokyo Dome City’s new multi-functional complex, LaQua, was the first stop on our city walk list this year. The new complex, with spa facilities, restaurants, shops, and amusement attractions, opened in May of 2003. The theme was to build an oasis in the middle of Tokyo, somewhere to relax, refresh, and have fun. And the first impression of LaQua reflects just that, as the spectacular color from the amusement park catch your eye. Trees lining the paths are bathed in a gold light, show their bare winter limbs, and small shrubs and bushes are also covered in twinkle lights. It seems everywhere you look light is incorporated into something, creating a vibrant light environment. The lux level reading from our illuminance meter doesn’t even begin to reflect the effect the lighting has on the feeling of brightness in the park. Another feature of the park is the world’s first ever center-less ferris wheel, Big O. A roller coaster, also, jets through the middle, unceremoniously illuminated, it only adds to the powerful impression of the gigantic “ring.” The colorful and kinetic lighting on the outer portion of the ring consist of many LED units. Each unit is further broken down into 4 parts to be programmed for a more detailed assortment of lighting display. The ring, the coaster, and the Water Symphony, a water, light, and sound show, in the plaza, turns the nightscape into an, alive, 3-dimensional…