Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Reconstruction of MEIJI JINGU [akarium] 2008

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the reconstruction of the main sanctuary of Meiji Jingu and on the occasion of the shrine visits to take place at night, an imaginative light design was put in place along the path approaching the shrine and for the shrine itself. At night, the shrine’s vast 700,000㎡ grounds retain a darkness that makes one forget that it is located right in the center of Tokyo. We felt that this darkness is a vital part of the shrine experience, so we put in place a design that minimally yet effectively illuminates shrine approaches and gates and the main sanctuary around the concept of light in harmony with forest darkness. Visitors walking on the approach were beckoned deeper and deeper into the grounds until they were welcomed by the main sanctuary appearing out of the darkness. The large crowds of people making their first nighttime visit were enchanted by a world of light and darkness that conveyed the history of Meiji Shrine.