Tomoya FurukawaKanagawa Still basking in the joy of how bright, unusually large, and beautiful last night’s full moon was, I headed out early in the morning to the wood deck along the beach. I went to take part in a radio calisthenics session together with elderly ladies, married couples, local runners, etc.  The morning after the Cold Moon, sunrise in the Shonan area on December 6 was at 6:33 a.m., and as we exercised, we ended up watching the sun rise.  I restarted radio calisthenics to add some rhythm and structure to my long days. I thought I would probably give up after about three days or so, but I have stuck with it for a month. I wonder why I have stuck with it this time?  What is my motivation?  The early bird catches the worm?  A growing sense of urgency to maintain physical health? Because I like the post-workout chat? “Mt. Fuji is very beautiful today.  So clear.  You can see Ohshima Island!” “Glad to see the sun rise, again today.  So peaceful.” At this time of year just before the winter solstice, the sun in the Shonan area gradually shifts to the right of Enoshima in the eastern sky and rises from behind the Miura Peninsula. As the sky turns pale and bright, about five minutes before sunrise the eastern horizon slowly deepens into shades of red. Then, for a few minutes until the very top of…

Mutsuo HonmaLighting Environmental ResearcherKyoto How has the design of light in architecture evolved throughout human history?  This is the research theme I am currently pursuing, with a particular focus on religious architecture. Today, I would like to share an overview of this work with you. I very much look forward to your enthusiastic responses. Today, light is valued for concepts such as ‘coloring space’ and ‘creating atmosphere.’ In the past, however, I think the role of light was much simpler. In the Romanesque period, the use of stone masonry arches imposed clear limitations on the size of window openings. Reliance on daylight was unavoidable, therefore, windows known as embrasures, with splayed edges, were widely used. Maximizing daylight was regarded as an absolute priority.  Because embrasures also increased penetration of direct sunlight, linear shafts of sunlight entering through windows into otherwise dim interiors may have been perceived as gifts from God. Presumably, this visual experience was cherished and valued. Fast forward to the Gothic period, structural innovations dramatically relaxed constraints on window openings.  Although these developments might naturally lead to brighter interiors, in reality large windows were filled with low-transmittance, richly colored stained glass.   Instead, deliberately preserving a dim atmosphere and bathing interior spaces with shafts of direct sunlight filtered through stained glass.  Introducing the injection of colored light. While one theory holds that stained glass served as a visual display of biblical stories for followers, regardless of interpretation, this period…

Interviewer: Jack Lim Jack: Good morning Mr. Mende. Today’s theme is “Dreams”. We will keep it open for discussion, whether it refers to the dreams when we sleep, or ambitions and wishes.  I will start with the question: When you sleep, do you have recurring dreams? Mende: I have many times dreamt of the same scenery and the same landscape, which gave a feeling of déjà vu. In this dream, I am usually flying. I see the ocean, the sun all over town, with beautiful nature and landscape. And I am usually just stand on a higher place. Do you know the ‘Tetsuwan Atomu’ (Astro Boy) ? I am just flying like Atomu. This is my favourite dream. I very much enjoy dreaming. Jack: Do you also dream a lot? Mende: Yes, I always have very good and optimistic dreams. I don’t have any fearful and bad dreams. Even when I have to fight somebody, I can always win. How about you? Jack: I dream a lot. I can dream even during a quick 10-minute nap, or when I fall asleep on a bus ride. My dreams come in all forms, good and bad. A recurring dream that I have usually happens when I’m almost falling asleep: I step on something slippery, like a banana peel, and fall backward, hitting the back of my head. Then I wake up with a sudden jolt, lying in bed, shocked. Sometimes, though, I…

Interviewer: Lin Huangyi (Akira) Akira：Mende-san, today I’d like to talk about the cost of losing dark sky. Perhaps we can continue our chat starting from the elevator as a warm-up to recall the value of starlight. What’s your most memorable experience of a starry night? Since we’re from different generations, I imagine our impressions might differ. Mende：One of my most unforgettable memories was in Annapurna, Nepal, at a mountain campsite. We were staying in tents, and one midnight I stepped outside—the galaxy was so close it felt like I could reach out and touch it. Everything was silent and dark, but the stars were overwhelming. I don’t know why, but tears came to my eyes. Akira：That sounds incredible. Maybe every human being, no matter what era or area they live in, will cry at this scene. It is kind of echo just like deep inside our subconscious. Once you’ve had that kind of moment, it never leaves you.For me, this happened during university in Chongqing. We visited the Jingxin Buddhist Temple (which literally means “Peaceful Mind”) on a mountain. This temple was part of a lighting project designed by BPI.When we got back to the hotel, there was a sudden blackout—the electricity system had broken down, and everything went dark for hours. At that moment, my classmates and I decided to do something crazy. We went back to the temple again, using only our phone flashlights. It was magical: the…

Interviewer: Momoe Nomura Nomura： When I was in grade school I was deeply hurt and had a painful experience while interacting with other people.  I was given a hurtful nickname, others made fun of my home situation, and things were thrown at me during class.  I didn`t have the means to protect myself, so naturally I withdrew from people altogether.  As a result, I have a hard time finding the words to communicate my feelings and relationships with people became even scarier.  This continued for quite a while. Now, as an adult I still don`t feel comfortable getting too close to people, but having no interaction is also very lonely.  Trying to find or create this in-between zone has been a challenge that is still with me. Mende： I see.  Relationships and creating boundaries, this might be an important theme throughout the course of life.  When I sit down and open up with another person, I usually prefer sitting at an angle instead of face to face.  Continual eye contact gets uncomfortable if you don’t have somewhere else to focus on from time to time.  Sitting at an angle I feel a little more at ease.   Having somewhere else to focus on also creates a natural rhythm in the conversation. Nomura：Yes, I like to sit at an angle too.  I don’t like sitting face to face because the other person will just be staring at my face, and I am insecure about…

There is a famous hot spring called Kasanji in Hamamatsu, Shizoka. By fate, I was invited to the Hotel Kokonoe, run by the Entetsu Group, to view the annual firework show the last weekend in July. The scene from the hotel is picturesque with the waterfront of Hamanako Lake right out the door and Mt. Okusa in the background.　 And from this very spot we were to view the 5000 fireworks show. But in the meantime, we relished delicious delicacies of local fish and locally brewed sake. At 7:30 we heard the thundering “BOOM, BOOM!” signaling the start of the fireworks. The local children had written wishes on 1000 or more floating lanterns that now flowed in the lake current under the streams of exploding fireworks. It looks like the two launch pads for the fireworks were built in the middle of the lake. The setup is like a set of twins preparing to do battle, alternating the launch of fireworks, and trying to out do each other. But, fireworks are just not the same. Nowadays, there are various shapes, colors and even odd sounds. Yes, my guess is everything is devised so the audience won’t get bored. And that is something I just can’t understand. I really don’t think it is a very good idea to turn traditional Japanese techniques into high-tech entertainment just to indulge popular demand. We aren’t talking about LED`s. Fireworks don’t need to be that…

Interviewer: Ton Kek Hian Wee Ton: Today, I’d like to talk about traveling. I understand that you are a very well-traveled person. So, do you prefer exploring nature or the built environment of cities? Mende: Which one do you prefer? Ton: As for me, I’m more of a city person because I love looking at structures.  When I was young, I loved playing with Lego and was always building something. So, when I travel, I enjoy looking at buildings, and seeing the different designs. I guess that makes me more of a ‘city person.’ How about you, Mr. Mende? Are you a nature lover or a city explorer? Mende: I like both, but I’m especially drawn to nature because it always inspires me. Nature is truly important to me. We, Japanese people, have a deep respect for nature, viewing things like the ocean, mountains, and even humans themselves as part of it.Since I started aspiring to a career in design, I’ve had more opportunities to travel and visit cities around the world. I enjoy exploring different cities and observing local people’s lives and architectural designs. However, I still find I sometimes need to reconnect with nature from time to time in order to find balance.I’ve been to Tanzania with my wife to see wild animals in their natural habitat. You might not know this, but I started scuba diving when I am 60 years old, and by the time I…

This excerpt is from an essay Mende contributed in December 2001. During a period of time, I often felt that my thoughts were rather unstable.  I had a habit of continuing conversations without coming to clear conclusions about whether something was good or bad, whether I liked it or disliked it. In essence, I had an indecisive personality that gauged the other person’s reactions while engaged in conversation. One could say this is typical of Japanese people, but I believe my profession as a designer contributed significantly to this tendency. We lighting designers have a job that involves listening to many people’s demands while skillfully handling contradictory conditions to solve a puzzle. It was after meeting Koharu Kisaragi that I was strongly compelled to reflect on this weakness of mine. Koharu Kisaragi, in complete contrast to me at that time, spoke about the light of the modern city with a strikingly fresh perspective.“I love glowing vending machines.” That was her first statement when we invited her to appear at the Lighting Detectives Practical Workshop Series that we organized in the fall of 1996. “Vending machines may seem to be everywhere in the city, but they’re actually passive. They can’t do anything on their own unless we humans approach them and access them. They don’t know what to do with themselves, and that blankness reminds me of urban Japanese people. Everyone is in a crowd, yet they’re alone…” she continued. At…

Interviewer: Kunzhi Jiang Jiang: Today I’d like to talk about “Cinema Lighting.”  I think cinema lighting is very important.  For example, I recently watched “The Godfather,”  and felt that light and shadow in cinema can really reveal various conditions of human psychology.  Especially senses with intense contrast, light and shadow help create a very tense situation. Mende: Yes, there are many dark scenes in this film.  It is an impressive example of using light to symbolize human emotion. Jiang: Yes.  I was really impressed with how light is focused on the left side of the screen and the right side gradually becomes dark.  I felt this represents the two-sided nature and internal turmoil of the characters.  What kind of movies do you like? Mende: I like films of various genres, but I was really moved by the French movie “Diva.”  The use of natural light is beautiful.  The softness and warmth of natural light really dictates the atmosphere of this film. Jiang: This sounds like a film with many great scenes. I am curious about the balance of light and shadow. By the way, films by the Taiwanese director, Edward Yang, are also very impressive.  Lighting melts into the quiet everyday scenes of his films in a way that is very easy. Mende: Taiwanese films certainly have a unique charm.  Particularly, natural light is skillfully used to create detailed scenes and atmospheres, unable to be reproduced with artificial lighting. Jiang: “A Brighter Summer…

Interviewer: Iris Wu Iris：Hi Mende-san, today we are going to talk about what era you would like to visit if you had a time machine. This ‘era’ can refer to your personal lifetime, or a historical period, or even a future era you imagine.For me, I would go back to around 2010, when I got into a really good middle school and I didn’t have to worry so much about studying. Since it was a boarding school and there were no mobile phones, my classmates and I always hung out together. Also back in those days, my parents were still very young and healthy. I would love to go back to that time and enjoy it with them. Mende: So, you remember your happy days. What about the future? Do you have any ideas about what it might hold? Iris: Not really, because I believe there are many unpredictable things ahead. I enjoy the uncertainty in my life; just like how I never knew I would pursue design one day, I’m excited about what I’m doing now. Mende: Of course, nobody knows what will happen in the future. However, you know, I’m still curious. I’m very surprised by your answer because I thought with a time machine, it would be the distant past or the far future.As for me, I’d like to go back to 200-300 years ago, when Japan had a very peaceful and exciting life. It was the…

Interviewer: Linxi Chen Chen:  Today I’d like to talk about minimalism.  Minimalism started as an art movement in the realm of western art after the end of World War II.  This movement dramatically affected later generations.When you hear the word “minimalism”, what do you think of? Mende:  Minimalism is also used in the world of music.  Well, I picture minimalists who prefer things simple or straightforward.  Are you a minimalist? Chen:  Technically speaking, I am not a minimalist right now, but I would like to become a minimalist.The term “minimalist,” refers to someone who practices minimalism—a lifestyle centered on living with the bare essentials. In Japanese, it’s also expressed as “最小限主義者” (saishougen shugi sha), which translates directly to “minimalist.” This concept involves simplifying one’s life by reducing material possessions.  My understanding of a minimalist is “someone who simplifies complex things, seeking a better way of being while maintaining a comfortable state both materially and mentally, and continues this lifestyle keeping themselves simple.”In the real world, the ideal scenario would be being light enough to carry all your essentials in just one suitcase and a bag, with the freedom to always be ready to do whatever you want. I think the reason this kind of thinking emerged is the result of experiences throughout my life.  When I was a child, I was often told at home and school that ‘frugality is a virtue.’  Growing up,  we lived in a large house…

Interviewer: Masashi Kurobe Kurobe:  Today’s coffee break theme is “Cities and Countryside.” I come from a rural town, but I have been living in Tokyo for some time now and have gotten used to urban life.  Recently, I went to Shimane Izumo for a lighting survey.  While walking through the town, I found that the lighting was different from that in the city, simple and not overly decorated, which was very attractive. Personally, I like experiencing first hand light  in rural areas and viewing city lights from a distance.  For example, the night view from the LPA office. Mende:  That’s a new perspective. Speaking of “cities and countryside,” when we say things like “there are no dark places in Tokyo,” but in the countryside, there are so many dark places that people might fall into rice fields. So, they say they need more lights and install LED security lights. Stereotypically speaking, I think there is a huge difference in the atmosphere or quality of light in the city and the countryside. Kurobe:  That’s true. When I lived in my hometown, I never thought darkness was an inconvenience, but now when I go back home, there are so many places that are truly dark and you can’t see anything.Now, I think you’ve traveled to many countries. Do you have a favorite rural town or countryside area? Mende:  I have traveled, but mostly for business trips as an adult.  So my perspective…

Interviewer: Yuta Shibata Shibata：Today I’d like to talk about memory and forgetfulness.   Since I started working at LPA, six months have passed.  Working as a lighting designer, I have found that memory is just as important as originality and creativity.   While working with several senior members of the staff, I have the impression that they have very good memorization skills.   I am not very good at memorizing things or trying to recall things. Mende：You sound like an old man.  Have you always been like that?  How about college entrance exams?  You have to remember a lot of boring facts and stuff. Shibata：Ever since I was young.  I had trouble remembering facts that would be on the college entrance exams, but I was good at math and physics, subjects where you think and solve problems through a thought process. Mende：I’m like that too.  I used to think that if I filled up my brain with arbitrary facts it would exceed capacity and I wouldn’t be able to produce new ideas.  But that’s completely wrong.  What is important for a designer is the power to imagine.  I have come to realize that memorization, good or bad, doesn’t really matter.  However, I am like you and had trouble with memorization and really suffered.  In grade school, history facts were always a problem and I made up phrases and rhymes to remember dates and events. Shibata：That is an interesting way to remember things.  I…

Interviewer: Chuanyi Liu Liu：Today’s theme is winter sports.  I heard that you are very good at skiing and used to go with the students in your seminar class every winter.  I was born and raised in a cold area and used to ski a lot back home.  Japan is very famous for its ski resorts and has hosted the winter olympics.  Every year, many foreigners come to ski.  Mende： Well, I`m not that good at skiing.  When I was younger skiing was pretty popular, but I never took to it.  I started when I was 50.  What other winter sports do you do? Liu：When I was in China, I lived in the northern area and skied often.  I started snowboarding this year.  The thrill of speed and feel of wind on your face is addicting.  Snowboarding is a great sport.  Making a run across the snow and the feel of snowflakes on your cheeks is an unforgettable experience in a snowy and icy world.  Snowboarding is also a great way to experience the outdoors.  I think seeing the beautiful colors of a snowy landscape, breathing fresh mountain air, and the feeling of being one with nature is very relaxing.  Mende： Sometimes when I attack a slope aggressively, I feel like I am the wind.   That is the real thrill in skiing.  Liu：In the beginning I thought it was very scary.  It is kind of like riding a bike.  Until you can handle…

Federico FaveroLighting DesignerStockholm When asked to write a note in TNT column, I was considering to share my thoughts on how Artificial Intelligence might change lighting design. But then during the summer I experienced the “Notte delle Luci” (Light Night) festival, and I felt the urge to report it. Visitors of the festival gather at dusk in Scorrano, a small town in Salento, the heel of the Italian boot. Thousands of people walk from the outskirts of the town to the main square. The public lighting is switched off and there is life buzzing from the shops and the restaurants. White structures along the streets frame the sky and create architectures of varied scale and complexity. These structures are called “Luminarie” and host multiple light points in patterns. When the sky is completely dark, music starts and all of a sudden all the “Luminarie” are switched on. The architectural structures shine, their patterns become alive, people are lit almost as in daylight, the atmosphere recalls a sense of fascination and of lightness. The eye shifts constantly between the saturated light dots and a sense of intense diffuse white light, which creates a vibrant complexity. Most of the lights are static but there are also spectacular shows of light and sound in the square and the surrounding streets. All in all, an awe-inspiring experience. I asked Paolo Portaluri, a lighting designer based in Salento, to give some context to what I…

Interviewer: Sunny Xu Sunny: Hi Mr. Mende. Today I would like to talk about a new technologic: AI (Artificial intelligence). What do you think about AI as a design tool? Mende: Have you tried to use AI to make some sentences or other things? Sunny: Recently, I tried to use an AI tool, Mid-journey, at a workshop with the Singapore office.  First, the user types into the app simple words or phrases, what style you want, or what object you want to see.   Then the app will show the user images. For example, if I want to see Singapore, Sentosa, or other locations and lighting, then I just type in these words, and the app will show different versions of this image.  The computer can also make some beautiful perspectives or drawings. Mende: So what do you think about this latest technology for our lighting design business or the project teams? Sunny: On the negative side, a lot of time is needed for AI to show complete work. However, since I have studied drawing in the past, I think drawing is faster than trying again and again. This is my position. Mende: Could Mid-journey create new designs or new lightscpaes for our projects.? For example, a hotel guest room. What will be the new design? I don’t know if AI will be able to exceed our creativity in this area.  A fellow professional recently stated, instead of  lighting designers, if…

Interviewer: Eddy Lau Eddy: Today’s topic for the coffee break is “Favourite Place to Travel”. Mende-san, you must be travelling a lot. Do you have any favourite place, you will not get bored of visiting again and again, or even living there? Mende: Yes, I have been to so many places, but it is hard to decide which one is my favourite. Each place is very interesting to explore. Eddy: For me, one of my favourites is Barcelona in Spain because the weather there in summer is amazing, sunbathing on such a beautiful long coastline. Especially for tourists to explore the city, there is such a nice walkable environment with stunning historical architectures all around the city, which are surprises everywhere to discover. The food is nice, and so are the people. How about if you want to move to a place, other than Japan, where will it be? Mende: I mean moving to live at a new country and travelling is a little bit different. Maybe travelling is more like a first impression. I never stay in one place for a long time, like studying aboard. So, I almost get a bit nervous living aboard, and you know, staying in Tokyo is much more convenient. There is one place that comes to my mind. My wife and I went twice or thrice to Andalusia, southern Spain, and there is a very small city called Ronda. This was the first…

Christof FielstetteLighting DesignerHamburg Light and shadow are fundamental elements of our world and have always inspired the imagination of humans. Light is the source of life, it allows us to perceive the world around us and gives us orientation. Shadows, on the other hand, are the absence of light, they are created when light is blocked by an object and can sometimes be unsettling or even frightening. However, despite their contrasting nature, light and shadow also have a lot in common. They are both essential for balance in our world and offer us the opportunity to see things from different perspectives. Without light, there would be no shadows and without shadows, no light. They rely on each other and cannot exist without the other. In nature, shadows provide a welcome change from bright, sun-drenched landscapes. They can be an oasis of coolness in the heat or a refuge from rain. They are an important part of the landscape and contribute to its diversity. Shadows also have a symbolic meaning. They can be a metaphor for the dark sides of human nature or for insecurity and fear. At the same time, they can also serve as a place of rest and relaxation, a place to protect oneself from the scorching sun. Another important aspect of shadows is the beauty they can radiate. In art, shadows are often used as a means to add depth and dimension to a picture. In architecture,…

Reiko KasaiLighting Design ProducerSingapore I am now cramped in a packed economy class flight from Bangkok back to Singapore with my laptop open. I am amazed at the number of people passing through the airport. The reason this scene feels like a dream is that I am still vividly remembering my flight from Japan only a year ago, when the airport was deserted, and I was the only passenger. On the return “private” flight from Haneda to Singapore, I enjoyed strolling around the cabin, chatting and playing cards with the five amiable cabin crew members who were working for just one passenger. The anxiety of the mandatory 21-day hotel stay that awaited me after landing had disappeared. Once again, I was the sole passenger on the bus that ferried me from the empty and lonely Changi Airport, where there were more staff in protective suits than passengers. I was nervous because I was not told where we were going, but we arrived at a high-rise 5-star hotel with a balcony in the center of the city. My prior fearful and pessimistic imaginings – 21 days isolation in the locked hotel room, boredom, stagnation, ill-health, and madness – were completely misled as I spent the next 21 days in peace, comfort, leading healthy regulated time schedule, and happiness. I can say with absolute certainty that what brought me happiness was the view from the room; windows that fully opened to the…

Interviewer: Ito Yuki ITO：Today I`d like to discuss the “appeal of dark spaces. ”Dark space is a pretty rough idea.  However, I imagine not totally pitch, black spaces, but dark spaces with a softly lit lamp, a level of darkness to feel comfortable and relaxed.  Do you have any lasting impressions or experiences with dark spaces?! MENDE：Memorable dark spaces…hmm…I have so many. It is hard to choose.  The level of darkness at a hotel I stayed at in Phuket left a very lasting impression.  As a hotel, the level of darkness was unthinkable.  I couldn’t even read the menu in the hotel restaurant.   However, the interesting thing is, at first, the darkness felt very inconvenient.  But as my eyes started to adapt, I gradually got used to the darkness.  If I wanted to do some work in this space, it would probably be harmful.  But if one is not reading or writing, I felt it was a very comfortable space and level of brightness.  ITO：The fixtures I use in my home have a function to change the level of brightness and color temperature.  I usually set the color temperature and brightness at the lowest setting, creating a very dim room.  So, I really understand the feeling of relaxation in a dark space.   MENDE： Isn’t such a dark room inconvenient for everyday living?! ITO：If I want to do some work, yes it is inconvenient.  So when I set the lighting low, I…