Roppongi Hills Celebrates Tenth Anniversary with Interactive Projection Mapping on Model of Tokyo

Apr 25, 2013 Joe Kleiman Attractions, News, Technology & Media 0

Tokyo, Japan /BUSINESS WIRE/ — In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Roppongi Hills, a renowned landmark of Tokyo, its developer, Mori Building Co., Ltd. (Headquarters in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, President and CEO: Shingo Tsuji) has launched a digital campaign “TOKYO CITY SYMPHONY” on April 23, 2013 (JST) as one of the main features of the anniversary project carried out under the theme “LOVE TOKYO.”

“TOKYO CITY SYMPHONY” is an interactive website, in which users can experience playing with 3D projection mapping on a 1:1000 miniature model of the city of Tokyo. The handcrafted model is an exact replica of the cityscape of Tokyo in every detail. Three visual motifs are projected onto the city in sync with music: “FUTURE CITY,” conjuring futuristic images, “ROCK CITY” that playfully transforms Roppongi Hills into colorful musical instruments and monsters, and “EDO CITY,” or “Traditional Tokyo,” that portrays beautiful Japanese images. Users could play a complex, yet exquisitely beautiful harmony on the city by pressing the keys on the computer keyboard. Each key plays a different beat along with various visual motifs, creating over one hundred different sound and visual combinations. Each user is assigned a symphony score of eight seconds, of which could be shared via Facebook, twitter, and Google+. The numerous symphony scores submitted by the users are put together online to create an infinite symphony.

Teamed up for the project were Japan’s “creative superheroes.” Heading the team as creative director is Tsubasa Oyagi, the winner of numerous awards including three Gold Lions at the 2012 Cannes Lions for the OK Go x Pilobolus: All Is Not Lost-Video Dance Messenger, and the Grand Prix at the Japan Media Arts Festival. This project is the first creation of Oyagi at his newly founded creative boutique SIX. P.I.C.S., a production house known for various interactive movie creations designed the projection mapping, and TAKCOM, a renowned creator trusted by top artists for music video production was assigned as projection director. Also on board are industry-leading creators Kampei Baba as web director and Takayuki Watanabe as programmer, both who work for Bascule Inc., famous for creating interactive websites. The music was entrusted to Koshi Miura, a member of Kuchiroro, an artist unit belonging to Ryuichi Sakamoto’s record label, popular across all ages.

“TOKYO CITY SYMPHONY” is just one of the various attractions planned for the celebration. Mori Art Museum will be showing “ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE – From Chagall to Kusama and Hatsune Miku,” exhibiting the works by various artists including Yayoi Kusama and Hatsune Miku. Other fun activities include “Les Girafes,” a festive spectacle of eight meter tall giraffes puppets and a live performance by the French group COMPAGNIE OFF.

www.tokyocitysymphony.com