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Emily Martin reports on her trip to Tokyo to take in the offerings of Design Lighting Tokyo 2015.

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Words by Emily Martin

It was around this time last year that FX editor Theresa Dowling said: 'Emily, how would you like to go to Tokyo?' Travelling to one of the world's technologically obsessed city was definitely something I wanted to be doing. I booked my January flight before you could say 'sayonara' and embarked on my Far East adventure to check out Design Lighting Tokyo 2015, a young and relatively unknown design-focused lighting exhibition taking place in Japan's capital.

Located at Tokyo Big Sight, an enormous 231,000 sq m exhibition venue in the city's equivalent of Canary Wharf, more than 13,000 visitors attend the Lighting Japan 2015, the umbrella name for three lighting events: LED/ OLED Light Expo, LED/OLED Lighting Technology Expo and Design Lighting Tokyo. Design Lighting Tokyo is a smaller portion compared with its two LED/OLED lighting expo counterparts, yet looking around its 45 exhibitors the content is varied and inspiring.

Luminares produced by Chinese company Tak Fu Hong Manufacturing are discussed

'It started out as a LED lighting technology exhibition with a number of fixture companies exhibiting,' says Hajime Suzuki, director and group vice president of Reed Exhibition Japan, the organising exhibition company in charge of Lighting Japan. 'The next step was to also grow the show and create more variety for visitors, especially as the fixture companies wanted to sell to the architects and designers. So we opted to showcase more lighting design, to appeal to the designers and architects to come to the event.'

According to Suzuki, the plan is working, and adding to the appeal to the design communities is the presence of LED/OLED and fixture manufacturers and their products.

Samples of work by exhibitor Tokyo Metal Industrial grace the exhibition.

'I thought the designers and architects would just look for the design products when attending the event,' he says. 'But what they say is since they can see lighting design, lighting fixtures and lighting technology all at once it creates a unique event for them.'

With the lighting manufacturing edition of the show focused as being an 'Asian event', with companies from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea and China exhibiting, Suzuki says that the lighting design side of the event needs to expand to attract a more global presence.

'The most advanced market for lighting design is in Europe. So we are trying to attract more European and American designers to create a more international event, but to also add more value to the Asian market,' he says.

Exhibitor Focus

Diamond by Takada Design / Hiroki Takada
This lighting pendant is made using glass mirrors combined with a high-power LED to provide a kaleidoscope effect.

Takada has also designed for Tom Dixon, and his work can be found in the Museum of Arts and Design permanent collection in New York. takadadesign.com

Nadeshiko Chandelier by Philknot
Philknot showcased a unique range of lighting made from vintage kimono fabrics, LEDs and fibre optics - including its new Nadeshiko Chandelier (pictured).

The company also designs exquisite costumes with integrated LED and fibre-optic technology. Company chairwoman Hisako Honda was at the event wearing one of its creations. philknot.com

Lighting products by Gallery Ari
Japanese ceramic studio Gallery Ari displayed a number of lighting designs, created by artists using the concept 'lights illuminating the pottery'.

Using light as a metaphor to 'power' the products, Gallery Ari's products use the various elements to create its products. members3. jcom.home.ne.jp/g_ari