Vote for Hero and Villain

Let’s go see the cherry blossom illumination along the Meguro River! 2019.03.25 　　Naoko Oguchi + Takashi Ota + Arata Ishikawa + Noriko Higashi　　 The Meguro River is one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo. For this night walk survey, we divided into two routes—Nakameguro to Meguro and Gotanda to Meguro—to investigate how the cherry blossoms are illuminated in each area. Cherry blossoms around Nakameguro illuminated by high-color-temperature white light Team 1　(Tokyu Toyoko Line Nakameguro Station → JR Meguro Station)Our night walk survey took us from Nakameguro to Meguro. Along the Meguro River near Nakameguro Station, the lighting went beyond simple illumination; the light from food stalls and restaurants created a lively atmosphere, and the cherry blossoms were powerfully lit with highcolor-temperature (6500K) floodlights. While there was some debate regarding this choice of color temperature, the high Kelvin value seemed to make the whiteness of the petals stand out impressively. However, depending on the installation points, some lights were at eye level for pedestrians, causing uncomfortable glare. Alongside the floodlights, countless lanterns stretched on endlessly, producing a bustling and festive cherry blossom season. In areas with few streetlights, these lanterns also served to ensure pedestrian safety. As we moved toward Meguro, past Komazawa-dori Street, the floodlight illumination ceased, leaving only lanterns and occasional independent lighting by adjacent restaurants. These shops showed various creative efforts, such as spotlights mounted on walls or portable floodlights, but those aimed upward…

2025.01.08-01.11 Misuzu Nakamura + Sachiko Segawa Kitakyushu City was finally ranked No.1 in the latest “New Three Great Nightscapes of Japan” by the Night View Tourism Convention Bureau. The city has actively utilized its local assets—such as the industrial landscapes developed from the Yahata Steel Works, historic streetscapes, and a terrain of hills and bays—to enhance its nightscape. Surprisingly, this city had not yet been surveyed by the Lighting Detectives, so we set out to rediscover its unique allure. ■Learning What Makes a Compelling Nightscape Before beginning our survey, we visited Ms. Miki Matsushita, a lighting designer who has long been involved in Kitakyushu city’s nightscape—from formulating the nightscape guidelines for the Kokura city center to planning lighting for various facilities both in and outside the city. We visited her lighting design office in Fukuoka City, which felt as comfortable and refined as an art museum. There, we had the opportunity to hear a wide range of storie—from the time she spent developing the guidelines to her mindset as a lighting designer. One thing that left a lasting impression was her comment that guidelines shouldn’t become manuals, but rather serve as guidebooks. It became clear that her approach, rooted in deep empathy for the local community, allowed her to foster unique charm through the application of the guidelines in ways that reflect the distinct character of each area. (Misuzu Nakamura) ■Kokura Station Area: The Gateway to Kitakyushu and a Hub…

08 January, 2011 The collective theme for the Lighting Detectives this year is “gathering.” To start off the New Year, club members gathered to visit the seven shrines of good fortune near Nihonbashi, Tokyo. While the pilgrimage is called “The Seven Shrines of Good Fortune,” there are actually Eight as the God of Fishermen, good fortune, commerce, and honest labor, Ebisu, is enshrined in two of the shrines along the tour. The group gathered just before dusk at Suitengu Shrine. From there we visited Matsushima Shrine, Suehiro Shrine, Kasama-inari Shrine, Suginomori Shrine, Takarata Ebisu Shrine, Koami Shrine, and Ochanoki Shrine. With map in hand, the detectives set off to discover what kind of lighting environments each shrine portrayed. The back streets along the way were dim and we had to stop under the fluorescent street lamps every so often to check our progress. Seven Gods of Good Fortune Walking Tour of Nihonbashi Suitengu Matsushima Shrine Suehiro Shrine Kasama-inari Shrine Suginomori Shrine Takarata Ebisu Shrine Koami Shrine Ochanoki Shrine The Seven Gods of Good Fortune City Walk Route Three Lighting Detectives Select the Most Impressive Shrines on the Tour Lanterns hung along the streets near Suitengu Shrine The soft lantern light along the main street is very striking, but all over lighting elements are not to the human-scale, but for traffic safety. Street lights, window light from bars and small eateries, and moonlight guided our way. 1. Detective Fujimoto: Koami Shrine…

Dallas, the stage for the assassination of President Kennedy and Fort Worth, a city of culture that attracts architects and designers from around the world. However, both cities have to compete under the hot Texas sun, with most buildings fitted with walls of heat reflective glass. This building style leaves only the edge of buildings for accent lighting, which often reflects onto nearby buildings. From Reunion Tower, looking towards the glass skyscrapers in the west end of downtown Dallas. Strong accent light for other buildings is seen reflected in the facade. The interior of Louise Kahn’s Kimbell Art Museum, where his words “Light is the Theme” still echo. Natural light filters in through a slit opened at the top of the vault and reflects off of reflectors fitted into the architecture. The reflected light turns the vaulted ceilings brilliant silver. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth designed by Tadao Ando and completed in 2002. The main walls seen from the outside are lightly wall washed without intruding on the art pieces and exhibition space. The outer perimeter of the building reflects clear design intent in the careful composition of high-quality light. In the evening, reflections on the surface of the surrounding pond present another angle to this building.

Date of Issue: April 30,2025・Activity 1/ City Night Survey: Yokkaichi（2024.11.21-11.22）・Activity 2/ City Night Survey: Kitakyushu（2025.01.08-01.11） City Night Survey: Yokkaichi, Mie2024.11.21-11.22 Shunichi Ikeda + Yuta Shibata Yokkaichi has developed as an industrial city. The striking contrast between its dazzling factory nightscape and the increasingly organized city center stands out. We conducted a survey of the urban lighting where industry and daily life coexist. ■About Yokkaichi Yokkaichi has a long history, having developed as a port town facing Ise Bay. During the Edo period, it prospered as a post station along the Tokaido route. The city’s name originates from the markets that were held on days ending in “4.”After World War II, Yokkaichi grew as an industrial city with the construction of a petrochemical complex during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth. However, air pollutants emitted from the complex caused a serious pollution-related illness known as Yokkaichi asthma.Today, the city has regained a comfortable living environment. Residential areas, shopping streets, and everyday life now extend right alongside the industrial zones. ■3D Factory Nightscape Yokkaichi, with its history of industrial development, began drawing attention during the early 2000s factory nightscape boom. The expansive factory nightscape of the Yokkaichi petrochemical complex, which stretches about 10 kilometers north to south, is counted among Japan’s five greatest factory nightscapes. What makes it especially unique is that the nightscape can be viewed from the sky, land, and sea—earning it the nickname “3D Nightscape.” Particularly photogenic views of the…