Sydney Opera House

2024.10.01-10.05 Atsushi Itakura & Genki Watanab When thinking of Mongolia, many people may imagine vast grasslands and nomadic gers, but therapidly developing capital city of Ulaanbaatar also deserves attention.Despite being only about five and a half hours from Japan, few people are familiar with its currentstate.This visit, conducted through an urban lighting survey of Ulaanbaatar, provided a valuableopportunity to discover an unexpected side of Mongolia. ■What Kind of Place Is Mongolia?When we think of Mongolia, the first image that often comes to mind is of vast grasslands stretching out endlessly, dotted with “gers”—the traditional dwellings of nomadic herders. For Japanese people, there’s also a sense of connection through cultural and historical ties, such as the shared heritage linked to the Mongolian spot (mongolian birthmark) and the many Mongolian sumo wrestlers who have found great success in Japan. Despite being only a five-and-a-half-hour flight away from Japan, Mongolia is a country that feels both near and distant—close in proximity, yet far in familiarity. Though we may feel an affinity toward Mongolia, the reality is that most people know very little about its present state. With this simple curiosity as our starting point, we embarked on a 5-day, 4-night survey of urban lighting in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of this rapidly developing nation. ■Topographical Characteristics of Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar covers an area of approximately 4,700 square kilometers and is divided into nine districts. The city is flanked by hills to the north and south,…

Theme:　Value of Time for Designers Interviewer:　Catherine Wong Catherine：So today our topic is TIME. Mende san, you always travel around to have meetings, lectures, forums and interviews through these years. You must be asked about thousands of questions. I was quite surprised you haven’t talked about today’s topic before. Mende： Yes, I can’t remember any interview talking about time. It is quite fresh for me. Time is very important to everyone’s life, especially business or achievements. It’s always quite difficult but important aspect for design. I do like to forget about time sometimes. Do you have any occasion don’t worry about time? Catherine：No, I always remember and aware of time as well. (Laughed) Mende： I wish to forget about time, you know. But unfortunately I always automatically think about the next scheduled task, and try to finish this task by designated time. (Laughed) It is not smart to me to have this habit. I think this is my bad attitude. How do you think about Mr Mende, as a very punctual and straight person about time? Catherine： Umm… I think it is okay. It is because this is your personality and attitude. To me, if you are aware of time that means you value the thing you are doing and respect the person you are with. Mende：Yes, yes. On the business occasion, time is quite valuable, first priority maybe. That is why I am always checking with our staff, for example…

City Night Walk in Kyoto 2019.09.26　Mutsuro Honma+Yumi Komatsu + Taiichiro Ishida+ Amane Kotani Our first investigation in Kansai in 4 years occurred in Kyoto. We investigated whether Kyoto, where there are many tourists all year round, is retaining its ‘Kyoto-ness’. The scene at our gathering after the stroll. Many first time participants in the strolls also participated here. Endless conversation filled the space. Main Objectives of Stroll about Town Kyoto Orientation It has been a year since I started living in Kyoto, but I still encounter charms of the place that I have not before. Its attractions are unique and various, and discovering them seems as if I’m drawing out even more of the beauty of the more I explore. Our investigation of Kyoto has been long awaited. ‘Kyoto is a city that is dear to all of us’ as Leader Mende-san’s introduced at the start of our event. I was very interested in how everyone would feel about Kyoto and excited to see what new attractions in Kyoto everyone would find. We explored Kyoto in 4 groups, each responsible for a Tourist attraction. Let us dive right into what we found! Group 1: Kiyamachi→Ponto-chou→Kamogawa The lights on the floor that ‘Lights the dark’ continues all the way to Minamiza Kiyamachi Street that runs along Takasu River that is supposed to be expressive The calm and soothing lighting in Pontochou Group 1 was in charge of Kiyamachi, Ponto-chou, and Kamogawa….

Interviewer: Ton Kek Hian Wee Ton: Today, I’d like to talk about traveling. I understand that you are a very well-traveled person. So, do you prefer exploring nature or the built environment of cities? Mende: Which one do you prefer? Ton: As for me, I’m more of a city person because I love looking at structures.  When I was young, I loved playing with Lego and was always building something. So, when I travel, I enjoy looking at buildings, and seeing the different designs. I guess that makes me more of a ‘city person.’ How about you, Mr. Mende? Are you a nature lover or a city explorer? Mende: I like both, but I’m especially drawn to nature because it always inspires me. Nature is truly important to me. We, Japanese people, have a deep respect for nature, viewing things like the ocean, mountains, and even humans themselves as part of it.Since I started aspiring to a career in design, I’ve had more opportunities to travel and visit cities around the world. I enjoy exploring different cities and observing local people’s lives and architectural designs. However, I still find I sometimes need to reconnect with nature from time to time in order to find balance.I’ve been to Tanzania with my wife to see wild animals in their natural habitat. You might not know this, but I started scuba diving when I am 60 years old, and by the time I…

Date of Issue: April 24, 2026・Activity 1 / Lighting Detectives Jr. : Children’s Workshop（2026.03.20）・Activity 2 / City Night Walk Vol.78：Shinjuku（2026.03.05）・Activity 3 / The Round Table Discussion Vol.75: Shinjuku Night Walk Review（2026.03.19） Lighting Detectives Jr. : Children’s Workshop Awaken the “Treasures” Sleeping in Nighttime Tsukudajima with Light!2026.03.20　Sachiko Segawa + Simeng Huang + Momoe Nomura + Noriko Higashi On the first day of the three-day weekend before spring break in March, we held our children’s workshop. This time, right in Tsukudajima where the LPA office is located, we took the kids on a night walk survey to search for “Lighting Heroes and Villains” and discover “treasures” hidden in the darkness. We also conducted lighting experiments on the spot. On March 20th—just a bit too early for the cherry blossoms—we hosted the 2025 Children’s Workshop. This annual hands-on program encourages children to explore and create under the theme of “light,” helping them learn about its power and influence. Since children rarely have the chance to walk outside after dark, the goal is to provide a spark for them to think about the relationship of light within the city. They experience how a familiar landscape transforms at night and how a single beam of light can drastically change an impression. For this session in Tsukudajima, we tasked the children with identifying “Heroes and Villains” and locating “Night Treasures”—landmarks swallowed by the dark that could reveal new charms when illuminated. As they walked, the kids…