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 changing nature of Shibuya requires continued attention.
The team that focused on the Creative Worker perspective determined their heroes and villains by assessing whether the light environment and space—from Shibuya Stream to Shibuya Bridge (an area redeveloped to become a “sanctuary for creative workers”)—could stimulate and captivate their creative sensibilities.
As a redevelopment of a former railway site, opinions were raised that suggested the area felt successful and enjoyable due to the reuse of rails and troughs, the scattering of railway-themed items, and the preservation of the city’s memory through the original track alignment. The area as a whole seemed well-received. Shibuya Bridge, designed to look like a station platform, was also highly praised. The line lighting, which imitated the rails, and the MUSTARD HOTEL next to it were judged to be spaces favored by creators, with the hotel’s reception design—themed after an old ticket office—showing a playful touch. However, the temporary illumination and the blue laser lighting on the Shibuya River continued to divide opinions due to their cheap appearance and simplistic approach.
The team that focused on the Urban Environment noted that just two months after the opening of Shibuya Stream, the crowds had returned to Meiji-dori. While lighting was used to create a sense of vibrancy along the Shibuya River, they pointed out that the cluttered backs of the shops were made even more noticeable by the illumination, and the river promenade was not suitable for continuous walking, being blocked by roadways without crosswalks. The opinion was raised that the “back-alley feel” has not yet been fully eliminated.
The conclusion was that the attempts to revitalize the previously overlooked Shibuya River—such as using lighting to clearly separate spaces for relaxing from spaces for walking, and installing attention-grabbing illuminations—are part of a worthy trial-and-error process that should be continually improved.
A common issue raised by every team, though unrelated to lighting, was the terrible smell of the Shibuya River. While the odor seems to have improved significantly compared to the past, I doubt people will want to eat next to the river or spend leisure time on the promenade until this smell is completely eliminated. I believe the most frequent request was for immediate water quality improvement and odor control.
Our Night Walk Surveys in 2018 covered three distinctive areas of Tokyo: Jiyugaoka, Shinagawa, and the Shibuya River. With Tokyo continuing its development toward the 2020 Olympics, we plan to focus on the city’s hot areas again next year and organize more surveys. (Noriko Higashi)
