Date of Issue: 18 November, 2024
– Activity 1 / City Night Survey : Akihabara, Tokyo（2024.9.9）
– Activity 2 / Kaoru Mende / Lighting Design Workshop (2024.9.21-23）
– Activity 3 / Online Talk Event – Nightscape in Your Town – (2024.7.25）
City Night Survey: Akihabara, Tokyo
2024.9.9 Yonglin Ke + Kunzhi Jinag + Linxi Chen
The brightness (luminance) of signage lighting is key to shape the overall lighting of a city. This survey conducted in Akihabara, a globally famous district, focused on the renowned Akihabara Electric Town (Chuo-dori), analyzing the evolution of the city’s lighting composition by comparing it to the survey from 19 years ago.
■Akihabara Electric Town
Akihabara is the heart of electronics in Tokyo and a globally famous hub for otaku culture. While it is bustling with tourists daily, the colors of the signs, filled with anime and game culture, are much more diverse compared to upscale commercial areas like Ginza or other shopping districts. In 2020, Chiyoda Ward released guidelines for outdoor advertising and urban development, leading to changes in Akihabara’s streetscape. This survey investigates the current night view of Akihabara Electric Town, comparing it to a survey conducted 19 years ago. (Kunzhi Jiang)
■What kind of lights shape Akihabara?
The main lighting elements in Akihabara’s key districts include streetlights, signage lighting, building façade lighting, and lighting from store entrances and spillover light.
Compared to the picture from 19 years ago, the most noticeable green and red lights from EDION were not illuminated due to the store’s closure. The ONODEN sign is now an LED screen, and the surrounding lighting has a more subdued feel. Previously, the area behind the bridge was completely dark, but now, with the bright lighting from a drugstore’s interior and signage, the bridge no longer needs uplighting, giving it a well-lit appearance. The game center façade has been renovated in bright red and now features prominent uplighting. Other areas have been replaced with new office buildings, where façade lighting is more modest. The areas that previously had colorful lighting now blend in more subtly with their surroundings.
Overall, the high-rise sections have seen the removal or replacement of neon lighting with LEDs, and the signage has been streamlined and consolidated into LED screens. The lower levels are now brightly lit, resembling daylight with a high density of lighting. (Yonglin Ke)
■The brightness and luminance
In this survey, we took measurements with our luminance meter and camera. On Akihabara’s main street, Electric Town, there was a noticeable contrast between bright and dark advertisements.
The luminance of LAOX’s LED screen reached up to 3000 cd/m², which seemed much brighter compared to the neighboring ONODEN screen.
Downward-facing lighting had a significant impact on the streetscape, with light sources being directly visible to pedestrians, making them quite glaring. The light shining on the store facade was also high luminance, but the difference in brightness compared to the advertisement signs was smaller. Overall, there was no overwhelming glare.
Additionally, the brightness of dynamic advertising screens fluctuated depending on the content being displayed, sometimes appearing very bright. In contrast, streetlights had a luminance of 100 to 300 cd/m², gently illuminating the sidewalks and roadways without excessively disturbing pedestrians. (Kunzhi Jiang)
■Outdoor advertising
Outdoor advertising plays an important role in the advertising industry. Not only do they convey information, but they also serve as decorations and accents.
However, if not managed properly, they can mar a city’s landscape and generate negative reactions.
Taking Akihabara’s Electric Town as a symbolic example, various outdoor advertisements are employed. These include:
・Rooftop billboards
・Banners
・Cantilever signs
・Digital signage
It’s no exaggeration to call it a “battleground for outdoor advertising.” Most of these ads are profit-driven. In the photos, the brightest sign measures approximately 400 cd/m², while the dimmest is around 13 cd/m². Most signs are illuminated within a range of 100-200 cd/m². The advertisements predominantly feature bright colors, reflecting the vibrant atmosphere of the area. This likely contributes to Akihabara’s unique ambiance and leaves a strong impression on visitors. (Linxi Chen)
■Street lighting in Akihabara
The lighting of Akihabara’s main roads primarily relies on streetlights, supplemented by spill light from surrounding stores and illumination from outdoor advertisements. Each streetlight pole features two lamps: one directed toward the roadway (approx. 10 meters high) and the other toward the sidewalk (approx. 6 meters high), with streetlights spaced roughly 17 meters apart.
According to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), it is recommended to maintain an illuminance of about 20 lx for outdoor sidewalks with high pedestrian traffic. Our survey found that Akihabara Electric Town clearly meets this standard. However, as many people notice, stepping out of Akihabara’s busiest streets quickly gives the impression of entering a much darker world. Given that the street lighting remains the same, this highlights the significant impact of bright outdoor advertisements on the area’s overall ambiance.
These findings emphasize the vital role of light and advertising in shaping the identity of this district. Through effective lighting and eye-catching advertisements, Akihabara not only attracts tourists but also reinforces its unique appeal as a hub for otaku culture and electronics. Creating such an environment not only enhances the consumer experience but likely generates valuable business opportunities, contributing to the broader economic development of the area. (Linxi Chen)
■Summary
Through this survey, we were able to comprehensively and systematically understand the characteristics of luminance distribution in Akihabara at night. While Akihabara’s signages and LED screens create a strong visual impact, the overall luminance is relatively uniform, with light pollution effectively controlled. As a hub for electronics and anime culture, Akihabara’s lighting design emphasizes individuality and diversity, with rich layers of color and visual effects that bring vibrancy and energy to the district.
Akihabara’s lighting environment should focus on adjusting the brightness of signages and refining the design of commercial building façades. Proper luminance management can not only reduce visual fatigue but also enhance the overall aesthetic of the district. Such design strategies will preserve Akihabara’s unique cultural atmosphere while improving the nighttime experience for both residents and visitors. (Kunzhi Jiang)
Kaoru Mende / Lighting Design Workshop
3-day Student Workshop
2024.9.21-23 Noriko Higashi
Kaoru Mende’s third annual Lighting Design Workshop took place over the September long weekend. Twenty students from diverse university backgrounds came together to delve into the foundational principles of lighting design.
Launched in 2022, this intensive three-day workshop brings together professional lighting designers to share their expertise with aspiring students. The jam-packed schedule, running from 10 AM to late in the evening, features eight lectures by LPA staff, two guest lectures, hands-on luminaire sessions, a city night walk, group projects, and final presentations. The program is designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. A dedicated team of 19 LPA staff members poured countless hours into crafting this enriching curriculum.
■Day 1: Lectures and City Night Walk
Our workshop provided a comprehensive overview of lighting design, covering concepts, processes, technical terms, and real-world examples. External experts were also invited to discuss the significant role of lighting design in urban development and the potential negative impacts of poorly planned lighting, such as light pollution.
In the afternoon, students were divided into three groups and embarked on night walk of different neighborhoods: Yurakucho, Azabu-juban & Roppongi, and Shimbashi & Shiodome. Over the two-hour walk, they were able to apply their newfound knowledge of illuminance, brightness, glare, color temperature, and overall lighting quality to real-world environments. Recognizing that perceptions of light can vary, students were encouraged to discuss their personal “heroes” and “villains” of light at various points during the tour.
The first day concluded with a group dinner, providing a relaxed atmosphere for participants to bond and build relationships.
■Day 2: Group Discussion & Group Project
On the second morning, we began by reviewing the previous night’s walk. Students discussed the photos they had taken and decided on the “heroes” and “villains” of light in the areas they visited. Each group engaged in lively discussions, expressing diverse opinions freely without feeling pressured to reach a consensus. They also developed improvement plans for areas they identified as problematic and summarized their findings on a single board.
In the afternoon, students tackled a group project titled “Nightscape in 2050: New Light and Us.” Compared to previous years, we significantly reduced the time spent summarizing the walking tour and allocated more time for group projects. Students were given just three hours to complete the project and present their findings. Encouraged to think creatively and use various presentation formats, the groups produced a diverse range of outcomes, including performances incorporating body movements and LEDs, proposals based on their observations from the night walk, and presentations using models and sketches with light sources.
While imagining a future as distant yet relatively near as 2050 was challenging, it seemed that several students were able to form a clear vision of their ideal night scenery within the short timeframe.
■Day 3: Lectures, Hands-on Luminaire Sessions and Individual Project
On the final morning, we held three lectures. A particularly engaging session involved hands-on demonstrations with various lighting fixtures, sparking numerous questions from the students who were eager to learn more about the equipment they were seeing for the first time. The informal setting, where students could easily approach the instructors for questions or comments, fostered a lively and interactive atmosphere.
In the afternoon, students presented their individual projects. They had been given five themes to choose from:
1) Lighting design for Katsura Rikyu as your living space,
2) Lighting design for Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier,
3) Revitalizing Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Street, Denboin-dori) with light,
4) Designing a tea room of light, and
5) Proposing a lighting environment for homes, underground spaces, or convenience stores in 2050.
Students responded with up to three A3-sized sheets, and all participants voted for their favorite proposals. Awards including the Best Award and the Kaoru Mende Award were given.
The presentations demonstrated a deep understanding of lighting design, with students conducting thorough analyses of Asakusa’s lighting environment, carefully examining the spatial characteristics of Villa Savoye, exploring light as a psychological and spatial material in tea rooms, envisioning new possibilities for convenience stores, and contemplating the future of residential and urban lighting.
The diverse perspectives and creative approaches to lighting design led to stimulating discussions and made it difficult to select the top-ranking proposals. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for students from various academic backgrounds to share their insights and learn from one another.
The workshop concluded with a reflection session where we gathered feedback from each participant. After three intensive days, the students took full advantage of the final get-together, catching up with peers they hadn’t had a chance to talk to, seeking feedback from LPA staff on their individual projects, and discussing future career plans. It appears they were eager to make the most of every moment of the workshop.
The Kaoru Mende / Lighting Design Workshop has been evolving year by year, with each iteration bringing new improvements, content adjustments, and program refinements.
While details for the next workshop are still under discussion, our staff debriefing has generated many exciting new ideas.
Even though the most recent workshop has just concluded, we’re already looking forward to creating an even more engaging experience for future participants. We are also committed to expanding the program’s reach and attracting a larger number of students. We hope you’ll continue to follow our work and join us for future workshops. (Noriko Higashi)
Online Activity / TransNational Tanteidan
– Nightscape in Your Town –
2024.07.25 Noriko Higashi + Mami Kono
Did you know that there are over 1,200 members of the Lighting Detective spread across the globe?
Seeking to foster connections among our international members, who rarely have opportunities to interact, we hosted our first-ever online talk event and YouTube video feed.
For our inaugural event, we focused on the theme of “Nightscape in Your Town.” Four members from diverse locations—Swansea, Basel, Colombo, and Takamatsu—shared their unique perspectives on the night scenes of their respective cities.
Our first speaker, Howie Ruan, is a doctoral student in Swansea, a seaside city in the southeast of UK. He shared beautiful photographs capturing the daily changes in the sky, the moon’s glow, and the long blue moment in this tranquil town. His presentation conveyed a deep appreciation for the distinctive beauty of European lighting, contrasting with his hometown of Guangzhou.
Next, we heard from Michael Hübscher, a lighting designer based in Basel, Switzerland’s third-largest city. He discussed the evolution of Basel’s cityscape over its long history, as well as recent debates surrounding the sudden emergence of colorful façade lighting. I’m particularly intrigued by Basel’s unique carnival, where the city lights are extinguished and lanterns illuminate the streets.
Our third speaker was Nilusha Rajapaksha, a lighting designer based in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. She highlighted concerns about light pollution and safety in popular tourist areas of Colombo, as well as the slow pace of LED conversion for street lighting. Her insights into the decorative lighting and festivals of Sri Lankan temples, where 70% of the population is Buddhist, were also fascinating.
Finally, we heard from Masaki Kimura, a university student studying spatial design in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture. Takamatsu is a city beloved by many artists, including Isamu Noguchi and George Nakashima. Masaki shared his observations on the city’s nighttime beauty, its challenges, and ideas for enhancing its cultural value. His thoughtful and detailed presentation of his hometown was truly impressive.
You can watch the full online talk on YouTube.
照明探偵団YouTube Channel
Now on Youtube！
『照明探偵団 夜景放送部～Lighting Journey～』
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new video series, “Lighting Journey: Night Scenery Broadcasting by the Lighting Detective Corps”.
Previously, we’ve been sharing our urban night scenery research through photos and text, but now we’re taking it a step further with video. Our latest videos cover investigations into the ukai (cormorant fishing) at Kintaikyo Bridge (Iwakuni), the Kangen-sai festival at Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima), and the Kagami-shinji ritual at Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine (Izumo), as well as short clips from our expeditions to Alaska and Morocco.
With these videos, you can now immerse yourself in the atmosphere, dynamism, and temperature of each location through sound and movement, offering a richer experience than our still images alone.
We’ll be releasing new videos regularly, so please be sure to check them out!
Lighting Detectives YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@lightingdetectives
