Published：05.July 2016
・Activity 1／The 53rd City Night Walk in Yokohama Bashamichi and Isezaki-cho（18/03/2016）
・Activity 2／The 51st Regular Round Table Discussion（01/04/2016）
The 53rd City Night Walk in Yokohama Bashamichi and Isezaki-cho
18.March.2016 Yuki Takeuchi + Eiki Takeuchi + Ginko Mochizuki + Huang Simen + Shinichi Sakaguchi
We divided into two groups walked in Bashamichi and the other two in Isezaki-cho, Northside and Eastside of JR Kannai Station in Yokohama. Those two areas are geographically close but have different characters.
■Over 150 years old gas lamps and early modern architectures create nostalgic scenarios in Bashamichi. Most elements and buildings have been modernized to suit for urban life style in Isezaki-cho. Both Bashamichi and Isezaki-cho are on the same stretch of the city, but have totally in contrast of these characters. We started exploring those two areas to find Heroes and Villains of light, and to reveal what kind of light defines the character of each area.
Contrast between gas lamp and shop interior light.
■Bashamichi Area
Bashamichi was the first place that gas lamps were installed in Japan. Before those gas lamps were produced in Japan, people carried portable lanterns with candle light. We started the walk, imagining how people felt when they saw gas lamps at the first time.
Group 1 started at Kannai Station. Arriving at Bashamichi and walking further down to the junction, first light to note was stadium lighting. We still had a long distance to Yokohama Stadium though, the LED light from the stadium looked very bright and stinging to the eyes.
The gas lamps installed along Bashamichi were 2000K warm light. The illuminance, was perceived low to all the group members; was about 16 lx. A neighboring hair salon was emitting glittery white light. Those two contrasting lightings looked like an angel and a devil fighting.
Walking further down, Bashamichi meets Honcho Street. Many government buildings in western style dominate this area and it was rather dark as there were no spilled light from shop interiors. Some features were illuminated even though there was only a few people passes by. Overall, the area was messed up with nostalgic atmosphere with urban lighting trends. After a long walk, we finally found the place we were able to feel the air from Meiji-era.
(Ginko Mochizuki)
Lantern street of high repute by members.
Variouse gas lamps.
Very bright light from Yokohama Stadium.
The building getting reflection of spilled light from opposite hotel
■Group 2, the member of five including our leader Mr. Mende, started walking in Bashamichi. The gas lamps created a nice ambience, yet the junction located in the middle of street looked dim. Some members commented that it was nice to maintain the antique gas lamps but overall night scape needed to be improved.
Off to a minor street, the most loved lighting item was the batch of lanterns hang overhead. Those lanterns were hang on wires from one building to the opposite building and it created exotic scenery together. It was great that neighboring shops cooperated to make the night scene beautiful.
Amongst the dim street Bashamichi, some grand buildings were left unlit and it made the area even darker. Disappointingly some of those buildings got reflection of reflected or spilled light from opposite hotel. We again recognized the importance of lighting planning with a good consideration to the neighborhoods.
（Shinichi Sakaguchi）
Isezaki Mall
■Group 3 walked around Isezaki mall. Isezaki mall has been developed since Yokohama harbor had opened, and was the first mall with pedestrian streets in Japan.
As we stepped into the mall, neon and decorative lightings welcomed us. Those lightings were neither stylish nor methodically designed. Blueish linear lights forming grids of Pachinko parlor facade, red lanterns hang on a bar entrance, a pharmacy with old fashioned luminaires and a futuristic looking Tabaco shop with linear light. All of these contributed to create nightscape in Isezaki Mall. This sort of mess added the charm and warmth to the area.
This unorganized group of lightings tend to be classified as a villain, yet we could say it is a hero this time. It is because it welcomes whatever character each other has and coexist in the same area, and are loved by the locals and passerby.
（Eiki Takeuchi）
Warm lighting of the bar.
A row of Pachinko parlors in the Mall.
Cherry River from the other side.
■Group 4 had a master of Iseszaki-cho, so the group excursed off the main track. Unlike the bright and busy mall, there were small stylish shops in a modest lighting along the ally. Those are in a hidden area, but some are nicely designed including lighting.
Cherry River was the most exciting spot for the members. The scenery at the riverside promenade was nostalgic with orange light from sodium lamps and paper lanterns were rhythmically installed. It was a comfortable lighting environment, not too bright and not too dark. Only the flashy blueish white light from the power poles were disappointing.
Back to Isezaki mall, Pachinko parlors built in a row dominated the view. Most of them were over 5000lx cool white façade lighting, but one parlor looked exceptional among those; it was elegantly lit up with 3500K warm and gentle light.
（Huang Simen）
Security lighting spoiling the mood.
Intense facade lighting of Pachinko parlor with high-power flood light.
facade lighting of Pachinko parlor.
■Bashamichi and Isazaki-cho are geographically close but characteristically far apart. Both areas have less visitors recently as Minatomirai district has been winning to draw more visitors by its fast urban growth. However, we felt both Bashamichi and Isezaki-cho had a potential to get the visitors back with appealing evening scenes.
（Noriko Higashi）
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 reflected the charm of this area. Some commented that the same street lighting were used throughout the area, and so there was a uniformity exist as Isezaki Mall. Another commented that ununiformed shop lightings created the entire area excited and endearing.
Many Pachinko parlors, always unnecessarily decorated by light, were classified as villains as usual, but one exception this time. One of those evaluated as a hero by its low and elegant lighting.
The group stretched the course to riverside introduced the scenery with sodium lamps reflected on the water surface as the best of heroes. Scenery of water with light always rejuvenate human heart.
It was nine years ago we had night city walk in Yokohama last time, focusing on the new development at seaside area. This year we explored streets in the old area to see something different. We think it would be a great occasion to arrange another session with local citizens to share our impressions and ideas.
This year Lighting Detectives plan three night city walks, Shibuya, Haneda airport and Sumida Aquarium. TNT Forum in Kyoto Japan is just around the corner too. We also have resumed updating Hero or Villain on our website and so please visit and vote.
We are looking forward to welcoming many participants to our onwards activities.
