Third Report! "Deeply Moved by an Otherworldly Experience," Tao Tsuchiya Appointed as Official Ambassador for "TOKYO LIGHTS 2026"!

The Projection Mapping International Award TOKYO Executive Committee will host "TOKYO LIGHTS 2026," a creative light festival illuminating Tokyo's nights, from May 23 (Saturday) to May 31 (Sunday), 2026. The event will take place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Citizens' Plaza and the West Shinjuku area. Actress Tao Tsuchiya has been appointed as the official ambassador to widely promote the charm of this event. Additionally, the lineup of all 12 planned works for the "Light Art Park" (venue: Shinjuku Central Park), creatively directed by Kenji Kohashi, will be announced. Notable art installations from Japan and abroad will gather to illuminate Shinjuku's nights, including a new work by Yoichi Ochiai, the Japan debut of "GAIA," and legacy works from the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Furthermore, advance applications for the Projection Mapping International Competition viewing area will open today at 3 PM, so please apply early. Tao Tsuchiya Appointed as Official Ambassador! Actress Tao Tsuchiya, who continuously embraces new challenges and enjoys support across a wide range of generations, has been appointed as the official ambassador for this event. Tao Tsuchiya will participate in public relations activities to convey the appeal of "TOKYO LIGHTS 2026" and will also appear at the Grand Finale held on May 31 (Sunday). ■ Appointment Comment “I first encountered 'TOKYO LIGHTS' in 2022. I was deeply moved by the experience, feeling as if I had traveled to another world, and my family and I have visited every year since. To be appointed as an ambassador for such an important role is truly an honor! Projection mapping and light art connect people and eras, and perhaps even the universe. I believe they possess infinite possibilities. I sincerely hope to see you all at the venue!” ■ Profile Tao Tsuchiya Born on February 3, 1995, in Tokyo. Debuted in film with 'Tokyo Sonata' (08). After being cast as the heroine in the NHK morning drama 'Mare' (15), she gained national popularity across a wide range of genres including film, drama, stage, and animation, with over 37 starring roles by 2026. She has received numerous awards, including the Newcomer of the Year award at the 39th Japan Academy Film Prize, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role at the 41st, and Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the 48th, establishing a strong reputation for her acting skills as well as her physical abilities in dance and action. In recent years, she has actively challenged herself in screenwriting, planning, directing, and music, utilizing projection mapping in a recitation play based on her original script. Upcoming releases include 'Matching TRUE LOVE' (autumn) and 'SUKIYAKI Ue wo Muite Arukō' (December 25). She is currently appearing in TV Asahi's 'Borderless: Wide Area Mobile Investigation Unit.' Five "Visible" elements comprising TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 Under the concept of "Visible TOKYO," TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 will unfold light experiences across five themes. Various elements breathing life into Tokyo – city, nature, emotion, connection, and creativity – will be visualized as light art. Visible CITY: Expressing Tokyo itself through light, such as urban flow, traffic, human presence, and data. Visible NATURE: Installations that make you feel the breath of nature, the rustling of leaves, and the subtle movements of life. Visible HEART: Artworks that project people's emotions, memories, and residual thoughts as light. Visible CONNECTION: A light interface connecting city and nature, people and the city. Visible IMAGINATION: Participatory and experiential expressions that stimulate people's creativity and inspiration. Creative Direction by Kenji Kohashi Introducing 12 domestic and international works for "Light Art Park," which visualizes the "invisible city"! "Light Art Park," an expansive light art installation, will appear for a limited time in Shinjuku Central Park. Under the overall direction of Kenji Kohashi, who has produced numerous international events and large festivals including the Osaka-Kansai Expo, artists from Japan and abroad will depict the "invisible Tokyo" with light. Admission is free and no advance application is required. Four themes forming "Light Art Park" "Light Art Park" is structured around four themes: "Visible CITY," "Visible NATURE," "Visible HEART," and "Visible CONNECTION." Within the venue, light art installations that allow visitors to experience each domain are scattered, enabling a three-dimensional perception of the 'Visible TOKYO' worldview as one walks through. 'G