'Whenever I see the alcove of a tastefully built Japanese room, I marvel at our comprehension of the secrets of shadows, our sensitive use of shadow and light," wrote the prominent modern novelist Junichiro Tanizaki in his 1933 essay on Japanese aesthetics, "In Praise of Shadows."
Lighting designer Kaoru Mende would surely agree. His work reflects that same veneration of the subtleties offered by darkness. His style focuses on the quality of the light rather than its strength, oftentimes making the space feel warm despite the relatively low luminance level he chooses.
Since founding Lighting Planners Associates Inc. (LPA) in 1990, Mende has tackled more than 700 projects with his company, including the interior and exterior lighting of well-known institutions such as Tokyo International Forum, the renovated Tokyo Station and the Roppongi Hills complex.