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 to
the lack of cohesion. However, in this town, the overwhelming majority of opinions categorized them as heroes. There were many positive comments noting that the elaborate designs harmonize with the local atmosphere and preserve a nostalgic “Showa-era” charm. On the other hand, some of these same streetlamps were flagged as villains where maintenance was lacking—such as burnt-out bulbs or hazardous electrical setups.
With various shopping districts clustered in a compact area, traditional Japanese shops stand sideby-side with trendy new establishments. It truly felt like a neighborhood that deserves its recognition by Time Out, offering a condensed, enjoyable experience for international tourists in a short amount of time.
After a night walk survey, we gather again at the salon to review our findings. I truly believe there is significant value in taking the time to organize one’s thoughts after the event, rather than just on the day itself. One of our goals is to move away from the rowdy atmosphere of a typical izakaya and instead enjoy a relaxed “lighting discourse” at our secretariat office.
Even if you didn’t participate in the actual night walk survey, this is a space to share your recent thoughts on lighting or information about neighborhoods you’d like to visit. If you haven’t joined us yet, please come by and experience it for yourself.
We’ll have a delicious meal waiting for you!
Also, please mark your calendars for Friday, January 9th, when we plan to hold our 2025 Activity Report Meeting. We look forward to seeing you there! (Noriko Higashi)
