2025.11.10 Noriko Higashi We held a review session for the Gakugei-daigaku night walk survey conducted in October. A total of 14 participants joined the retrospective, with 10 attending at the secretariat and 4 participating online. The second salon of the year at the Lighting Detectives’s office focused on the review of the Gakugei-daigaku night walk survey. Each leader from the three groups shared their findings. Participants noted that Gakugei-daigaku was perhaps the most compact neighborhood we have surveyed to date. With the station, shopping districts, and residential areas so closely integrated, the night walk survey was relatively short at 90 minutes, yet it offered a wide variety of urban “expressions.” Similar sentiments were echoed throughout the salon. One of the biggest surprises for many was the discovery that there is actually no “Gakugei University” in Gakugei-daigaku(university)! Research revealed that the university moved in 1964; it hasn’t been there for 60 years. While we began the walk expecting a student town atmosphere, we were struck by the relative lack of students and the strong presence of families and young professionals instead. The most common impressions shared during the salon were that the town is a “mixture of the old and the new,” featuring “elaborate streetlamps” and “stylish redevelopment under the elevated tracks.” The streetlamps, in particular, were a major topic of discussion. In any other neighborhood, their overly ornate designs and inconsistent color temperatures might have labeled them villains due tothe…

2025.05.27 Momoe Nomura + Noriko Higashi A follow-up meeting was held to review the night walk survey in Tachikawa conducted in April. Members gathered at the LPA office in Tsukuda and enjoyed lunch boxes while engaging in lively discussion. Plans for future activities were also discussed. A review session was held at the LPA office to reflect on the night walk survey conducted in April 2025 in Tachikawa, Tokyo. Despite all being within walking distance from the same station, each area of Tachikawa revealed its own distinct character, along with unique attractions and challenges. In particular, the large commercial complex GREEN SPRINGS, located on the north side of Tachikawa Station, was noted for its thoughtfully designed spaces. One especially memorable feature was the lighting on the staircase at the main entrance. The blue light, flowing like water down the steps, created an immersive, cave-like atmosphere when viewed from above—evoking a dreamlike ambiance. Participants also praised the pole lights that used RGB lighting to project overlapping colors onto the ground, turning illumination into an experience rather than merely a visual aid. These elements received high marks for their creativity and attention to user experience. However, in some parts of GREEN SPRINGS, it was pointed out that certain shops used bright white lighting, which clashed with the otherwise warm-toned atmosphere of the area.Near GREEN SPRINGS, under the monorail, several issues were also identified. For example, lighting on public artworks was overly intense,…

Yaesu & Otsu Night Walk Review 2023.04.28　　Noriko Higashi For the first time in about three years, the Lighting Detectives held an offline (actually a hybrid connecting with Kansai) Lighting Detectives Salon. This was the first salon since the Lighting Detectives office moved from Shibuya to Tsukuda. The excitement of the members who were eager to come to the new office was beyond imagination, so much so that I had to raise my voice a few times because I couldn’t hear the group members who participated online. The content of the salon was a review of the night walk survey in Yaesu and Otsu and a discussion of the theme for the next city walk. In the review of the Yaesu night walk survey, some people expressed their hope that the nostalgic red chochin lanterns with a rich Showa-era atmosphere that still exist in the midst of steadily advancing development would remain, there was a presentation on the various street lights in the Yaesu area, a review of handmade lights on the cherry blossoms that were just in full bloom, and a discussion of the light environment in the newly completed Yaesu Midtown and the Yaesu Underground Mall that is undergoing renovation. In the Otsu review, a student member of Ritsumeikan University who had just joined the group reported on the light environment along and around Lake Biwa. The color lighting of the Lake Biwa Hana Fountain reflected on the lake’s…

2024.10.25 Noriko Higashi We held a round table discussion at the LPA office to review the Musashi-Kosugi city walk that took place in early October. (Unfortunately, I forgot to take any photos!) As we walked through different areas of Musashi-Kosugi, each with its unique characteristics (development areas, old shopping streets and residential areas, and the area connecting Musashi-Kosugi and Shin-Maruko stations), we discovered a variety of issues, challenges, and positive aspects, both specific to each area and common across them. It was surprising to find such diverse characteristics within walking distance of the same station. One common issue we observed in all areas was excessive brightness and excessive darkness. While the glare from streetlights and security lights is not unique to this city, we found that even in quiet residential areas and newly built high-rise apartments, there was an abundance of glaring light. During the discussion, we heard various concerns about lighting in dark areas. For instance, participants mentioned that it was difficult and scary to enter the back of first-floor parking lots due to insufficient lighting, and that the lighting was too bright at eye level but dark at the feet. Some also pointed out that trees had grown too large, blocking the lights. Additionally, at Musashi-Kosugi Station’s bus rotary, the color temperature differences between the bus stop lights and the streetlights created an inharmonious space. This issue was attributed to different management entities within a single space. While…

Review of Kyoto & Sangenjaya Night Walk 2023.10.27　　Yuki Ito Very lively discussion on the theme of darkness Today’s salon was a review of the night walk surveys focusing on the darkness of the city. It was a hybrid session with online participants from Kyoto as well. There was a friendly atmosphere in the LPA studio even before the session started, so much so that the students from Kyoto who participated online might have felt a little left out. Under the theme of darkness, we discussed what kind of darkness lurks in each area and what kind of light lurks in the darkness. For the Kyoto city walking review, the presentations focused on historical buildings and cityscapes unique to Kyoto. While some participants commented that they felt a sense of calmness in dimly lit spaces with only streetlights lining the precincts, they also discovered that some streetlights were too bright and were harming the darkness of the precincts. The LPA office was impressed by the keen perspective of the surveyors in Kyoto. Since the theme is darkness, the entire slide is finished in black In the Sangenjaya Night Walk Survey review, each group walked mainly along the greenway and talked about the various dark spots they found along the way. The opinions of each group were divided about the streetlights lining the greenway. Some said that the light blocked by the trees was not good for illumination, while others said that the…

2024.05.30 Noriko Higashi A review of the May 10 City Night Survey was held. 20 people gathered at LPA on Friday night to discuss the lighting in the newest spot, Azabudai Hills.We did the review of the May 10 Azabudai Hills & Toranomon Hills Station Tower City Night Survey. The leaders of the groups summarized their opinions and made presentations using photos of the heroes and villain of each group. The report from each group seemed to have more heroes than the past town walks.I would like to report some common points and notable contents from each group’s presentation ■Media ceiling behind the eaves of Toranomon Hills Station Tower　Most of the teams had never seen a media ceiling before and highly evaluated it as an interesting new landmark. Some commented that the ceiling’s moving projections led visitors’ viewpoints upward, making the space appear larger. The digital lighting is very symbolic and suitable for the entrance of a new city which makes it deserve to be a hero. ■Azabudai Hills Landscape LightingA slightly darker lighting scheme that makes people naturally want to visit the brightly lit storefronts in the back of the building. The approach to the commercial area is less bright, making the store facade more conspicuous. The uplighting of trees, which usually tends to be a villain, was also well-lit, although there were some too dazzling spots depending on the type of tree. Opinions about the lighting at the…

Remote Salon/Light within a 100 meters from Home 2020.05.19　Noriko Higashi While we are forced to postpone our explorations around town due to the coronavirus, we held a salon online. 25 participants reported on the lighting within a 100 meters of their homes. The Shomei Tanteidan’s very first ZOOM Salon. We had lively discussion for 2 hours with 25 participants. Due to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19, a state of emergency has been declared and our Shomei Tanteidan Members restricted to their homes. Our team had to cancel our stroll about town planned for mid-May. While we cannot leave our homes, online events for people with other hobbies have started popping up, leaving us the challenge to organize an event in a completely different situation than before.While there were voices that were raised of concerns regarding an online event being slightly contradictory to the Shomei Tanteidan’s usual fieldwork style. However, considering the unknown of how long this situation will last, after discussion with our Stroll about Town Planning members (SQUAD), we decided to organize an online salon. Trespassing by LIGHT! The theme was ‘Light within a 100 meters of your home’ which was hopefully one that allowed individuals to remain in their houses or venture outside only slightly while exploring. Honestly, we were worried about how much conversation and discussion we would be able to find, but to our surprise, all 25 participating members had their own topics. Some…

Small-Group Night Walk Review2021.12.02　　Noriko HIgashi This salon was held online as a review of the small-group night walk surveys conducted in November, with 22 participants attending. The session ended up running 30 minutes over time, filled with rich and engaging content. This was the 7th time we hosted a salon online. While the convenience of joining from anywhere is a clear benefit, there’s still something missing in terms of the sense of unity that comes from gathering in person for discussions. That said, the idea of conducting simultaneous night walk surveys in different locations and coming together afterward for an online review—something we never would have considered before COVI —has proven to be a highly effective approach.This time, the reviewed areas included five locations in Tokyo, as well as Kyoto, Nagoya, and Suzhou in China, totaling eight locations. Unlike our previous format where a single area would be divided into three or four sections for review, this time each report focused on completely different areas. As a result, the volume of information needed to explain not just the lighting but also the local context was vastly greater. We initially planned for a 90-minute salon, but it quickly became clear that wasn’t enough time—we ended up going 30 minutes over. The content shared during the salon followed the night walk survey reports from the previous page, and once again, each team prepared impressively thorough materials for their presentation. Every time, I’m…

“Rethinking Future City Night Walk” 2020.08.28　東悟子 The Lighting Detectives’ main activities revolve around fieldwork. During this salon, we split into groups to discuss what kinds of night walk surveys are possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what we should be observing now.Our third salon held online Each team discussed potential areas for the night walk survey. The Nagoya team proposed a streetlight investigation Since the end of March, we’ve been working with the night walk survey planning committee, SQUAD, to explore what kind of activities the Detectives can pursue even under pandemic restrictions.Various ideas were proposed, such as solo night walks, video streams of night walks by Chief Mende, virtual night walks, and even group YouTube watch sessions. In May, we conducted an experiment where each member investigated lighting within a 100-meter radius of their home and shared their findings online. This project turned out to be meaningful, as it revealed both positive aspects and problem areas in each of our residential neighborhoods. However, since the Lighting Detectives have long focused on gathering for fieldwork as a core activity, we wanted to explore new possibilities. With that in mind, we invited members to submit ideas under the theme “Reimagining Future Night Walk Surveys.” Specifically, we asked what kind of night walk surveys they’d like to try. Based on similarities in proposed themes and locations, members were grouped into three teams: Each group was given 40 minutes to discuss and develop…

Small Group Night Walk Review 2020.11.28　　東悟子 An online review session was held to reflect on the “Small Group” night walk surveys conducted across seven locations in October and November. As members shared their observations and experiences, each report sparked curiosity and inspiration—many found themselves wanting to explore the places others had visited next. Participants joined from a variety of locations — their homes, workplaces, izakaya(Japanese style pubs), and even schools Each group leader gave a report on their night walk survey findings We held our fourth online salon of the year, focusing on a review of the night walk surveys conducted in small groups during October and November. Each area leader reported on their respective night walk survey. Typically, we divide into three to four groups to explore the same area and then present our findings. However, this time, the night walk surveys were conducted in completely different locations—including Nagoya, the Midosuji Illumination in Osaka, the Shibuya public restroom tour & Miyashita Park, Toyosu, Yanaka, Azabu-Juban, and Somei Cemetery & Sugamo. As a result, the reports were rich in variety, and the 90 minutes flew by. In the report from Nagoya, which focused on streetlights, large and flamboyantly designed streetlights were introduced and praised as “heroes” for contributing to the vibrant, energetic atmosphere characteristic of the city. On the other hand, LED illuminations that cast an overwhelmingly blue hue over the surroundings were labeled as “villains.” The team in charge…

English Remote Talk Event　Lighting At Home / Neighbourhood 2020.07.19　Sherri Goh Connecting with members from all over the world without leaving our seats. We review daily lockdown scenes of our homes. Participants in the online event The first ever english virtual meeting for Lighting Detectives was held amidst the worldwide pandemic of the Coronavirus 19 that saw many countries in lockdown and members working from home. This was open to our current members only and we had an attendance of 21 people from China, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA. The time difference had people call in from work, bed, car, home and various social situations. As the theme was “Lighting at Home/Neighbourhood”, we called on our community to share pictures of their situations faced in quarantine or working from home. Submissions were received even from core members who were not able to attend the event itself. With minimal technical glitches at the beginning, we kickstarted the event with a welcome note from Kaoru Mende that contained more pictures of his daily commute in Tokyo followed by self-introductions from everyone. Fires in the Santa Catalina Mountains from Charles Stone The picture presentation began with a submission from Ignacio Valero of a pair of surgical masks, titled “Lockdown Kisses” captioned with “the idea that love will always find a way to express itself no matter what”. We had night views of Budapest, Hungary and Eskiltuna, Sweden at…

The 62nd Lighting Detectives Salon 2019.11.29　Noriko Higashi We facilitated a review of our exploration of Ikebukuro. We presented our findings as the 4 groups that explored Ikebukuro. It was a great discussion with 20 participants. Explanations using photos taken on the day Review of Ikebukuro Nightwalk Each group gathered their conclusion and presented them 20 participants sitting around a round table exchanging opinions We facilitated a review meeting for the Ikebukuro nightwalk that happened on November 15th. As we split into 4 different groups in Ikebukuro and explored completely different areas, it was a fun time with many unique details in each presentation. The Hero identified by group 1, who mainly explored the newly opened HAREZA and Sunshine 60, was the elegant white façade of PARCO, the HAREZA’s exterior, and the calm space of light in Naka-Ikebukuro Park. On the other hand, the villains they identified were the large home electronics retailers and the other streets that were too bright. The worse offense, however, was committed by the dark and gloomy East Ikebukuro Central Park. Group two explored starting at the East gate, then the Toshima area government office, and South Ikebukuro Park. Their villain that they identified was the overwhelming variety of bollard lights and streetlights. They perceived the glare from these lights to be quite strong and was just too bright. Group 2’s hero is the lighting on the Toshima area government office stairs and its railing and…

Vol.55 Round Table Discussion Review on city walk in Tsukuba Express Area 05/29/2017　Noriko Higashi We held a review on the city walk in Tsukuba Express Area. Did we find to our answer to the key thesis, “The last developed major railway in the capital region, Tsukuba Express – The lighting for the development of railway line succeeded?” We held city walk in Tsukuba Express Area on May. 15 members joined. It was not many, but we could have deep discussion. We had four groups, which walked the following four areas. Kashiwanoha-campus Station, Yashio, Nagareyama-ōtakanomori, Kitasenju. Some members commented it was difficult to find Heroes. The railway line area and its surrounding areas are being developed since EX was opened on 2005. The access from Tokyo to Tsukuba got to be convenient. Along the railway development, new shopping malls and high-rise apartments have been developed as well. However, lighting planning has a lot of problems. We found very glare lights which were wasting energy. On the other hands, we found some areas, where there were not enough light for necessary points, were very dark. New apartment lighting looked designed well, but parks were too bright or too dark and not conformable. It seemed there were no guideline of lighting for commercial buildings, and we didn’t see unity among the buildings as one town. It was appreciated that light poles around the stations were suitable color temperature and brightness. As our answer…

2018/11/29 Noriko Higashi We held a review of the Shibuya River Night Walk Survey. While there was high praise for the Shibuya River being brought back into public view, many opinions suggested there is still much room for improvement. About 20 members gathered to exchange opinions on the nighttime environment of the Shibuya River The sudare illumination over the Shibuya River generated mixed opinions The Shibuya River’s laser illumination also resulted in divided opinions The lighting environment of Shibuya Bridge received mostly high praise We held a review of the Shibuya River Night Walk Survey. This time, instead of dividing the area to be covered, we separated the participants into three teams based on different viewpoints (Pedestrian, Creative Worker, and Urban Environment). Each team summarized and presented the lighting heroes and villains of the Shibuya River from their respective perspectives.First, the team that focused on the Pedestrian perspective praised the successful creation of a more walkable area at night, where the formerly undesirable Shibuya River was transformed by strips of light from laser illumination and temporary displays. They also suggested that incorporating the “lines” of the former Toyoko Line and the Shibuya River into the lighting design was a good way to preserve the area’s history. The common characteristic among their villains was excessive brightness and glare from shops, signs, and lighting fixtures that ultimately undermined the atmosphere the promenade was trying to create. The team concluded that the constantly…

Meguro River Cherry Blossom Illumination Night Walk Review 2019.04.17　　 Erina Hosono On April 17, as the cherry blossom season came to a close and the warmth finally arrived, a review session of the Meguro River cherry blossom illumination night walk survey was held.The element that many members recognized as a hero was the water surface of the Meguro River, reflecting the rows of pink lanterns. Members shared that the sight was mystical and beautiful, with illuminated cherry branches and blossoms swaying above while the lights flickered on the water below. However, the discussions regarding the floodlights used to illuminate them, the color of the light, and the overall environment surrounding the illumination brought forth many conflicting opinions. Heated debate over the ideal light color for cherry blossom illumination The discussion regarding the color of the cherry blossom illumination—the centerpiece of the festival—was split into three main perspectives. Some argued that it should be lit with white light to meet the expectation that “Meguro River is all about white cherry blossoms,” while others preferred warm bulb-colored light. There was even a candid opinion suggesting that “since the goal of flower viewing is drinking, does it even matter?” However, everyone agreed with the suggestion to experiment with high-color-rendering light sources that enhance the delicate, pale pink hues of the blossoms.Regarding the floodlights used to illuminate the trees, the vast majority pointed out issues with glare. villain designations were concentrated on examples where…

2018/05/08　　Simeng Huang + Noriko Higashi Since we felt there weren’t enough chances to hear from our members directly, we decided to hold the first “General Meeting” in Lighting Detectives’ history. It was a lively event where the conversation flowed freely, and everyone had a great time enjoying delicious food and drinks. An easy-to-understand explanation of photography tips you should know for a Night Walk Survey We also presented on tools such as illuminance meters and luminance meters They shared the stories behind why they joined the organization We also exchanged ideas about which cities the Lighting Detectives should visit next We held a Lighting Detectives General Meeting & Night Walk Survey Introductory Workshop at the LPA office in Shibuya. This was the first-ever general meeting and the first introductory workshop in four years since the last one in 2014. A total of 24 people, including chief Mende, participated. For the first time, we live-streamed the entire event on Facebook and Instagram simultaneously, which allowed those who couldn’t attend in person to participate. By the end, over 160 people had watched the stream.First, chief Mende gave a presentation on the history and activities of the Lighting Detectives, from its founding to its current publications. He reported that the group, which was formed with just six members in 1995, has grown into a large organization with 980 members this year. After that, there were detailed explanations of the group’s “seven tools” (optical…

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,…

Shomei Tanteidan Salon Review of the Kamata night walk 2017/09/06　Noriko Higashi We had a review of Kamata-town walking which held on the Premium Friday in the midsummer, when the town flourishes the most. How was the impression of night in Kamata? Discussion was carried out with 18 participants. Group leader presented the summary of the walk. Many opinions came from the first participants as well. Slide comparing the streets around the west exit of the station. Eatery with Showa feeling was unanimously selected as a hero. Internally illuminated panel in the entrance of the arcade became a hero with soft coloring Every member in the group thought the park in the residential area was a hero. When I asked participants about the impression of Kamata, there were opinions saying “A place that doesn’t bother to go, and hasn’t been explored yet”, “There are many Pachislot and Pachinko stores jumbling around, but doesn’t have bold flashiness like Kabukicho”, “Very convenient for being able to use 4 lines”, “Yuzawaya”. How did these change or didn’t change after the walking? The characteristic of Kamata mentioned in the salon was “active town that is very lived-in feel and prospers with many people at night.” I didn’t see lightings with unified design, but many of the lightings that coming out from restaurants and stores were attractive and called out for a long way, which was not uncomfortable at all. The lighting mentioned as Villain of…

@Lighting Detectives Office2017.03.16　Yuka Tamano A salon was held to review the night walk survey conducted at Sumida Aquarium in February. The discussion focused on whether the aquarium successfully embodied its dual themes of “Enchanting Light” and “Functional Light”. Discussion while reviewing the presentation slides. The presentations were led by each team leader A few new faces joining the night walk survey and salon for the first time On March 16th, a review of the Sumida Aquarium night walk was held in a friendly atmosphere accompanied by a seasonal spring meal. For the Sumida Aquarium walk, we divided into four groups and conducted our survey with an emphasis on “Functional Light” (lighting to see) and “Enchanting Light” (lighting to charm). While the findings had been briefly presented at the postsurvey gathering, the salon allowed for a deeper analysis with each group’s opinions compiled into slides. During this salon, many heroes unique to entertainment facilities were identified, but there were also villain”—cases where participants felt, “It’s a shame this exists despite the other good lighting.”First, many felt the staircase from the entrance to the initial tank was a hero, as it creates a crucial first impression that draws visitors into the facility’s world. Shimmering lights reminiscent of being underwater were projected across the walls, leaving a positive impression. However, turning around on the stairs resulted in a direct hit from the projector’s glare. While concealing the equipment in that environment seemed difficult,…

The 51st Regular Round Table Discussion＠Tanteidan Office 01. April 2016　　Noriko Higashi We reviewed the Yokohama Bashamichi and Isezaki-cho city night walk held in March 2016. Cherry river was the best hero. The original plan was to walk in two areas, two groups each, but one of the groups went off the course together with Isezaki Mall and so they summarized the experiences as well. A group took a vote. A group made their questionnaire and the member answered. Summary of the shop lightings in Bashamichi. The major comment on Bashamichi was the lack of proper night scape planning. Glary spilled light from shops were disturbing the view, and feature buildings and key functions such as zebra crossings were left unlit. The old gas lamps would have created a nice scenery in this area if lighting plan had been done properly. Another comment was on the contrast of bright and dark spots; it was good that the entire area was not too bright, but some spots were too dim to walk comfortably. Many also pointed that historical buildings should be enhanced by lighting. Some shops and streets had good lighting, and those were introduced as heroes of light. All the participants were disappointed that the special feature of gas lamps were not used in the best way. The groups from Isezaki-cho mostly commented that Isezaki was not so sophisticated as Omotesando, but the combination of chaotic, heartwarming and nostalgic lighting environment…