Interviewer:　Ai Sohara Theme：Fashion and Light , or maybe Women and Light Sohara： Today, I thought we could take a walk and visit Laforet Harajuku. Mende：Did you come shopping here when you were younger? Sohara：Oh ya!! I am a Tokyo native, …

Interviewer:　Simen Huang Theme：Why Chinese people love colors Simeng　Today I`d like to discuss the reasons why Chinese people prefer bold or vibrant colors. In recent years, LPA has landed many projects in China. I`m sure the clients ask fo…

Interviewer:　Yumi Honda Theme: An Encouragement of Morning Honda　 Mr. Mende, you are a morning person and come into the office early, but that lifestyle and working as a lighting designer seems to be contradictory. I am also a morning perso…

Interviewer:　Shunichi Ikeda Theme：Lighting for Lighting Design Office Ikeda　Today I`d like to discuss the lighting in a lighting design office.   I have always wondered about architects and interior designers who design their own …

Interviewer:　Takafumi Kubo Mende :  I heard that you practice Ikebana, or Japanese flower arrangement.  What style are you learning?  It’s amazing that you find time when work is so busy. Kubo : I am learning the Sogetsu style of Ikeb…

Interviewer:　Hiroyuki Miyake Theme：Development in Technology and the Changing Role of Light in 2050 Miyake　Today I`d like to discuss the “Role of Light” in the future over a broad span of time.  In interviews conducted with 100 people …

Interviewer:　Misa Fujii A Love letter from Kaoru Mende: Dear Misa, I think you are a person with a lot of vitality and an amazing lighting designer.   When I say “Feel free to think freely,”  you always seem to come up with a killer idea, u…

Interviewer:　Tsutomu Nagatsu Moonlight in the City, Moonlight in the Mountains Nagatsu　Today I`d like to talk about moonlight in the mountains.   I like to go mountaineering, how about you?  Do you climb mountains? Mende　I don’t have …

Interviewer:　Motoyo Ogawa Mende　Some kids just really love Disneyland. Ogawa　Yes. I am one of them. Mende　At what age did you start to really like Disney? Ogawa　 I first went to Disneyland when I was in Kindergarten.  When I started element…

Interviewer:　Misuzu Nakamura Thme：Waterscapes with Light Nakamura　Ok.  So, today I thought we could talk about waterscapes with light.  I just got back from a trip to survey the urban lightscape of Bangkok.   The scenery along the rivers an…

Interviewer:　Momoko Muraoka Theme：The role of a designer Muraoka: Today I would like to talk about the role of a designer.  Of course, there is our regular work consulting on design projects, but also as lighting designers, we have helped l…

Interviewer:　Genki Watanabe Theme: Architectural Lighting and Stage Lighting Watanabe:　Today, I`d like to talk about “Architecture Lighting and Stage Lighting.”   At the university, I majored in stage lighting. Mende:　What sparked your inte…

Theme:　Disaster Area Lighting Interviewer:　Yukiko Saito Saito　I was born in Rikuzentakada City, Iwate Prefecture, an area devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. I would like to talk today about “Disaster Area Lighting.” Mende　Have y…

Interviewer:　Chen Liwen Theme：The Bright future of Japan and China Mende　So what is the theme today? Chen　The bright future of Japan and China. Mende　That’s a whopper! Chen, you are Chinese, so can you answer a few of my questions too? Chen…

Interviewer:　Mayumi Banno Theme：The Herbivorous Younger Generation Banno　For a change, I`d like to talk about the younger generation today and their nickname as “herbivores” or “introverts.” Since I have been with LPA, I have had the opport…

Interviewer:　Noriko Higashi Issued on November 30, 2011 Noriko　：Before I started working at LPA, I taught English to children at elementary schools and at my home. I have always really liked working with children. Mr. Mende, how did you com…

Theme:　Media Walls and facade Lighting Interviewer:　Kyoko Takubo Issued on October 31, 2011 Kyoko:Mr. Mende, today I have a problem and, if you don`t mind, I would like to ask for your advice. On a recent project, the client has requested a…

Over a 13 year period I have written 76 Mende Notes. I tried, very diligently, to write one every month, but some things just don`t go as planned. So, now I donate this supposed “Note” writing time to a monthly hour and a half l…