2023.10.17　　Noriko HIgashi Kozushima-Island is the second island in Japan to be certified as a starry sky protected area by the International Dark Sky Association in 2020. The island is working to create a town free of light pollution by replacing street lights that do not send unnecessary light into the sky. Through a workshop, we found out how the villagers feel about the nighttime environment that has changed as a result of these efforts. The International Dark Sky Association is a group of astronomers, doctors, and environmentalists from around the world working to address the problem of light pollution. It grants certification called International Dark Sky Places to cities and places around the world that have taken measures to prevent light pollution. The hurdle is high, as they have to clear fairly high standards to be certified.Kozushima-Island received that certification in 2020. About 600 streetlights and security lights on the island were replaced with ones that do not leak light into the sky. The color temperature was also standardized to 2700K. In addition to protecting the starry sky, sea turtles, which have not been seen for decades, have been seen laying eggs, greatly contributing to the improvement of the surrounding ecosystem. Residents’ reactions to the replacement of the street lights were generally positive, with many saying that they were comfortable because the white, overly bright lights were gone. However, some said that they felt unsafe in some areas because of…

A Free and Open Public Participation event! Date and Time:Nov 2012 (Sat), 6:30 – 8:30 pm Venue: Merlion Park, One Fullerton@ Marina Bay Organizer: The Lighting Detectives Singapore In collaboration with: The Fullerton Heritage Supported by:　Japan Creative Centre Venue: Marina Bay Turn off the lights and take it slow. Candle Night @ Marina Bay, Singapore 2012 This year, we marked the 3rd Candle Night Event in Singapore. The Lighting Detectives and students from local schools created large-scale candle light installations around the Merlion Park and One Fullerton, while members of the public were invited to decorate lanterns to celebrate the Merlion`s 40th birthday. As Candle Night coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, visitors also paraded through the Merlion Park with their own lanterns and enjoyed candles in a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.

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.

Tanteidan Jr. Kids Light Odyssey2025.08.21-08.23 　Kayo Sasamoto + Noriko Higashi At the request of the incorporated association TOCOL, we held children’s workshops in three locations in Aomori Prefecture: Nanbu Town, Hachinohe, and Hirosaki. 20 to 30 children participated in each location, and with flashlights in hand, they conducted a Night Walk Survey and lighting experiments. For three consecutive days in the middle of summer, from August 21-23, we held children’s workshops in Nanbu Town, Hachinohe City, and Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture. This workshop was held at the request of the incorporated association TOCOL. They had heard there weren’t many design-related workshops in the area and asked the Lighting Detectives to come and hold one. Since it was during summer vacation, each session was fully booked with 20 to 30 children. Parents also actively participated, and in some sessions, there were more questions from the adults than from the children. Before each Night Walk Survey, the children also got to try painting the traditional Aomori craft of Kingyo Neputa (a goldfish-shaped lantern), so the workshops were packed with content. Even though the sessions were long, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., the children participated enthusiastically. ■Nanbu Town, Where Darkness Remains　Nanbu Town is a district located about a 30-minute drive inland from Hachinohe, and it’s an area where a good deal of darkness remains. Here, the workshop wasn’t just about finding lighting heroes and villains while walking around. It also focused…

Reiko KasaiLighting Design ProducerSingapore I am now cramped in a packed economy class flight from Bangkok back to Singapore with my laptop open. I am amazed at the number of people passing through the airport. The reason this scene feels like a dream is that I am still vividly remembering my flight from Japan only a year ago, when the airport was deserted, and I was the only passenger. On the return “private” flight from Haneda to Singapore, I enjoyed strolling around the cabin, chatting and playing cards with the five amiable cabin crew members who were working for just one passenger. The anxiety of the mandatory 21-day hotel stay that awaited me after landing had disappeared. Once again, I was the sole passenger on the bus that ferried me from the empty and lonely Changi Airport, where there were more staff in protective suits than passengers. I was nervous because I was not told where we were going, but we arrived at a high-rise 5-star hotel with a balcony in the center of the city. My prior fearful and pessimistic imaginings – 21 days isolation in the locked hotel room, boredom, stagnation, ill-health, and madness – were completely misled as I spent the next 21 days in peace, comfort, leading healthy regulated time schedule, and happiness. I can say with absolute certainty that what brought me happiness was the view from the room; windows that fully opened to the…