Symbiosis of beautiful starry sky and light environment
2024.03.10 Noriko Higashi
The Yaeyama Islands became the first island in Japan to be certified as a starry sky protected area. However it’s still only tentatively certified because about 2% of the outdoor lighting still needs to be improved. How should we think about the nighttime scenery in order to protect the starry sky and to make the night comfortable for local residents? We had a discussion with the citizens along with the Mayor of Ishigaki.
Thank you for joining us, Ishigaki!
The Yaeyama Islands, including Ishigaki Island, are the first area in Japan to be certified by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA, Arizona) as a starry sky protection area. The Yaeyama Islands are provisionally certified because there are still some outdoor lights that need to be renovated. Through the symposium and walking around the town with local people, we explored what kind of nighttime scenery is needed in Ishigaki, where the night sky remains precious dark and tourism is a major industry.
■Symposium
“Symbiosis of beautiful starry sky and light environment” was the theme of the lecture by Mr. Mende and tripartite discussion with Mr. Yoshitaka Nakayama, Mayor of Ishigaki City and Ms. Yoko Akagi, General Manager of Ishigaki Island Beach Hotel Sunshine, who is practicing hotel construction in consideration of light pollution. Looking back on the past light pollution countermeasures in the Yaeyama Islands, they exchanged opinions on how to create a light environment while protecting the starry sky in Ishigaki City, where tourism plays a major role in economic activities in the future.
Some stores emit excessive lightThe mayor also took the initiative to express his opinion■Night Walk at Misaki-cho
We walked around Misaki-cho, downtown of Ishigaki Island, with locals to search for the heroes and criminals of light in Misaki Town. Participants were given audio receivers to listen to the discussion of Mr. Ochi of the Dark Sky Association and Mr. Mende as they walked the streets. Mayor Nakayama also participated in this town walk, leading the way in pointing out the characteristics of the light of Ishigaki, things to cherish, and things that can be improved. The most conspicuous feature of Misaki Town is the signboard lighting with a long arm attached. Most of the stores use this method to illuminate their signboards, creating a scene unique to Misaki Town.
The use of a light source with a warm color temperature seemed to contribute to the overall sense of unity. Participants raised many questions and opinions as they walked, to which Mr. Mende and Mr. Ochi responded.
The arm is extended to illuminate the sign. We can see many this type of lighting in Ishigaki
■Night Walk Review
After walking around the city, the participants were divided into groups to discuss heroes and criminals of light, and then shared their findings with the entire group. Common comments included the following: illuminations with unclear targets are might be unnecessary, lights should be directed to the targets, lights in unused facilities and streets should be turned off, and lights that are too strong or too many should be reduced. The most highly rated were signboards that emerged with indirect light and light leaking from inside buildings. The lack of glare from the light sources was a nice touch.
We were able to learn the opinions of many people through the town walk and reviews. We hope that these activities will continue in the future to realize a better nighttime landscape in Yaeyama. (Noriko Higashi)
Night Walk Review: Heroes and Villains Shared by All
Competing with elaborately planned shop facades, intense Han River bridge illuminations, sign luminaries, and bare light bulbs, all flood the streets with chaotic lights. Multi-colored and thriving on pure energy, the different areas in Seoul are alive at night with their own individual style of light. Looking towards the Han River from the observation deck of KLI 63 Building. Myeongdong Commercial District. Light from sign luminaries flood the streets, a typical scene in many Asian cities. In the Dongdaemun Market, numerous bare light bulbs hang from the ceiling and reflect off the canopies overhead.
Date of Issue: December 15, 2022・Activity 1/ Kaoru Mende/ Lighting Design Workshop 2022 (2022.09.17-19) Kaoru Mende/ Lighting Design Workshop 2022 3-day Student Workshop2022.09.17-19 Noriko Higashi We held a three-day introductory workshop on lighting design, where professional designers from LPA shared their expertise. A total of 23 university students participated, making it a highly intensive program. Although some students were initially reserved, through city walks, group discussions, and social gatherings, they gradually built friendships, learned to respect each other’s opinions, perspectives, and styles of expression, and created a positive atmosphere that led to a fruitful experience. While Lighting Detectives’ activities have been restricted due to COVID-19, we are even more concerned about the limited opportunities for children and students to experience things that can only be done at their age. In particular, lighting design requires going to actual sites to observe and experience lighting firsthand, which is an essential first step. We carefully considered how to conduct a workshop that could communicate the importance of lighting design and the value of firsthand experiences, even during the pandemic, and were finally able to hold it over the September holiday weekend. (Noriko Higashi) ■Purpose of the WorkshopI once taught lighting design-related courses for about ten years at several universities, including the Department of Design at Tokyo University of the Arts, the Department of Architecture at the University of Tokyo, and the Department of Spatial Design at Musashino Art University. Each school had a…
Date: September 22nd, 2005 Program: City Tour, Symposium Venue: AIA Center for Architecture It was another beautiful autumn day in New York City for the 4th Annual Transnational Tanteidan Forum. It all started 4 years again in 2001 with the first forum held in Tokyo. The network of Transnational Lighting Detectives has since grown throughout the world and once a year the core members gather to stage, what has become, the annual TN forum. Presently, the core members consist of 11 members from 6 different countries. This year’s forum was presented by the New York Chapter and held at the Manhattan AIA Center for Architecture. Main Street Lighting This focus this year was again on public space, with the main theme: Main Street Lighting, a continuation from last year’s theme of Daily Transportation Facilities. Main Streets are a feature of most cities and the purpose of these surveys was to see how each core member’s city was illuminated. 200 plus architects, lighting professionals, and others gathered and passionately listened to the following 6 presentations. The first presentation from Jason Neches, New York Chapter, featured Manhattan’s 5th Avenue, Madison Avenue, and Times Square. The valley-like form of these streets from being enclosed by tall skyscrapers is the most recognizable characteristic, but light from signage and window displays on the lower portion of the buildings creates most of the scenery along the streets. Aleksandra Stratimirovic, from the Stockholm Chapter, repeatedly used beautiful…
New Face Shibuya : Searching for the Double Line of Light 2018/10/02 Tomoya Furukawa + Haruka Takano + Noriko Higashi The redevelopment of the former Tokyu Toyoko Line Shibuya Station platform and the surrounding railway site along the Shibuya River has brought about the creation of Shibuya Stream, Shibuya Bridge, a revitalized Shibuya River, a promenade, and green spaces. In this highly anticipated area, we looked for lighting heroes and villains from three different perspectives. The successful launch of Shibuya Stream and the Shibuya River revitalization project are turning the area into a new community hub Redevelopment has been ongoing in Shibuya for many years. This Night Walk Survey started at Shibuya Stream, which opened in September. The walk proceeded along the Shibuya River promenade to Shibuya Bridge, serving as an examination of the “Challenge of the Shibuya River Restoration.” Taking the theme of “Searching for the Double Line of Light of the Shibuya River and the Toyoko Line Trace,” we divided the walk into three teams, each focusing on the perspective of the pedestrian, the creative worker, and the urban environment. Members listening attentively to chief Mende’s explanation The Shibuya River, with the river surface along the wall illuminated by blue laser light ■Team1(Creative Professionals’ Perspective） Team 1, consisting of 11 members including chief Mende and four first-time participants, conducted a Night Walk Survey through the lens of a “creative worker,” seeking out lighting that stimulates and captivates the…
Nightwatching Tour：Hachijo-Jima Island Tour to Experience Natural Light That Never Happened July 2nd, 2017Written by: Noriko Higashi Hachijojima Night Watching Tour, which was planned on the 2nd and 3nd in July. We were all super excited as the Light Watching Tour was planned for the first time in three years. Guess what happens to us? Although there are clouds on other islands, the island can be seen Flyer for the tour Hachijojima which was supposed to be under the eyes was covered entirely with clouds and fog, and we could not see any part of Island Glowing mushrooms, fireflies, sunlight falling through tropical rainforest in the summer, the sunset falling into the sea, and starry sky. Expecting to experience various kinds of natural light, we decided to visit Hachijojima for this year’s annual night view watching tour. Although it was right in the middle of a rainy season, we were blessed with perfect sunny weather in early summer. There was also a forecast that the day would become the hottest day this year in Tokyo. To board a flight departing Haneda airport at 7:30am, our group of 12 members met up at a boarding gate at 7:00 in the morning. One of our members, supposed to be feeling excited, seemed worried and said “We might not able to fly.” “I heard that flights can return to Haneda airport even if they fly” said another. Flight status display showed our flight was…
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