A landmark of the Tokyo Bay Area, Tokyo Big Sight is Japan's largest international exhibition center.
From October 2014, huge projection mapping on the exterior walls of the Big Sight Conference Tower started for the purpose of revitalizing its vicinity, the Ariake District, also known as Tokyo Waterfront City. This projection mapping is playing a major role in enlivening the waterfront area.

Tokyo Big Sight, convention facilities
with the maximum scale in Japan

Since its opening in 1996, Tokyo Big Sight has been the venue for the Tokyo Motor Show, Comic Market and various other exhibitions and trade fairs hosted by Japanese industries. It is Japan's largest international exhibition facility and transmits a diversity of information to people in Japan and around the world.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Port and Harbor has taken the initiative to promote the revitalization of Tokyo Waterfront City. The Ariake District, where Tokyo Big Sight is located, is also a target area of the plan. In view of this, Tokyo Big Sight decided to conduct projection mapping on the walls of the Big Sight Conference Tower in accordance with a concept that aims to make this waterfront area an international base of tourism. This projection mapping started in October 2014 to take part in the revitalization of Tokyo Waterfront City.

Gigantic projection mapping livens up
the Ariake District at night

In 2012, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Port and Harbor began promoting Tokyo Waterfront City as a base of MICE (Meeting, Incentive travel, Conventions, Exhibitions) and international tourism. Tokyo Big Sight submitted a proposal when the project publicly invited promotional ideas. The proposal of Tokyo Big Sight matched the intention of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the idea of large-scale projection mapping received a "go.“
"Exhibitions and fairs generally take place during the day and close in late afternoon. To keep visitors in the Ariake District after the closing of exhibitions, we needed to liven up the area at night," said Mr. Yamamoto, Section Manager of Tokyo Big Sight Inc. As a kick off, a projection mapping system was installed. The "screen" is huge, so it can be seen from various locations in the Tokyo Bay Area and also from the trains on the Yurikamome rapid transit line. The projection mapping is often highlighted by mass media, so it helps make known the nighttime attraction of the Ariake District to the general public."

Huge projection mapping on the walls of the Tokyo Big Sight Conference Tower

The PT-DZ21K projector was selected based on its successful use in the London Olympics and other major events

For the selection of the projector model to use, Tokyo Big Sight placed importance on the track records of various manufacturers' products. "We selected Panasonic because of their proven track record of use in major events such as the London Olympic Games as well as their extensive service system including maintenance," said Mr. Yamamoto. A total of eight PT-DZ21K projectors were installed, four units each for the two large walls of the Conference Tower. Those units were housed in a dedicated cabinet on the outdoor pedestrian deck. The shutter of the cabinet is closed when the projectors are not in use. When the plan for projection mapping was broached, the staff of Tokyo Big Sight were not sure of how the projected images would look, but when images were projected onto the inverted-triangular-shaped walls of the Conference Tower, they were all pleased. "We were very surprised and excited to see the way the projected images appeared," said Mr. Yamamoto. The walls of the Conference Tower are slanted toward the ground. Mr. Yamamoto said that the inclined walls were suitable for projection mapping according to the designer.

Four PT-DZ21K units housed in the cabinet.

When projection mapping starts, people stop walking and watch.

The availability of projection mapping content is still limited, but Tokyo Big Sight plans to select design themes and increase the content. "Only content produced in-house is used at the present, but we are considering the possibility of having exhibition hosting organizations to create projection mapping content for limited-time showing," according to Mr. Yamamoto. The Media Center for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games is scheduled to be set up at Tokyo Big Sight. In 2020, huge projection mapping at Tokyo Big Sight will create a lively Olympic atmosphere.

Location

System Installed by

Panasonic System Networks Co., Ltd.
Panasonic System Solutions Japan Co., Ltd

Equipment installed