Press Release
Actress Tao Tsuchiya Named TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 Ambassador, 12 artworks announced for Light Art Park
Full Lineup of 12 Works Announced for Light Art Park, Artistically Directed by Kenji Kohashi. Program Includes a New Work by Yoichi Ochiai and the Japan Debut of GAIA; Viewing Area Advance Registration Opens.
Tokyo, Japan, 13th May 2026 – The Tokyo International Projection Mapping Award Executive Committee is pleased to announce that TOKYO LIGHTS 2026, a creative festival of light illuminating Tokyo’s nights, will be held from Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government No. 1 Building, Citizens’ Plaza and the Nishi-Shinjuku area (including Shinjuku Chuo Park)
The Committee is also pleased to announce that actress Tao Tsuchiya has been appointed official ambassador for TOKYO LIGHTS 2026. In addition, the Committee is unveiling the full lineup of 12 planned works for Light Art Park, the event’s light art program under the artistic direction of Kenji Kohashi. The program will bring together notable works from Japan and abroad, including a new installation by Yoichi Ochiai, the Japan debut of GAIA, and legacy works from Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Viewing Area Advance Registration Now Open via official website!
Official Ambassador
The Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of actress Tao Tsuchiya as the official ambassador for TOKYO LIGHTS 2026. Widely supported across generations and known for continually taking on new creative challenges, Ms. Tsuchiya will help promote the event and will also appear at the Grand Finale on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Tao Tsuchiya Comments: “My first encounter with TOKYO LIGHTS was in 2022. I was deeply moved by the experience, which felt as though I had traveled into another world, and since then my family and I have visited every year. It is a great honor to now take on the role of ambassador. Projection mapping and light art connect people and connect generations and perhaps may even connect us to the universe. I believe they hold limitless possibilities. I hope to share this experience with many people at the venue.”
Born in Tokyo on February 3, 1995, Tao Tsuchiya made her film debut in Tokyo Sonata (2008) and rose to national prominence after being cast as the heroine of NHK’s morning drama series Mare (2015). Since then, she has built a wide-ranging career across film, television, stage, and animation, with more than 37 starring works as of 2026.
Five Themes of VISIBLE TOKYO
Under the concept of VISIBLE TOKYO, TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 presents five themes through which visitors can experience the city in light: Visible CITY, Visible NATURE, Visible HEART, Visible CONNECTION, and Visible IMAGINATION. Through these themes, the event seeks to visualize the many elements that shape Tokyo—its urban landscape, nature, emotions, human connections, and creativity—through the shared language of light.
Visible CITY expresses Tokyo itself through light, including the flow of the city, traffic, signs of human presence, and data.
Visible NATURE presents installations that evoke the breath of nature and the subtle movements of life.
Visible HEART features artworks that project emotions, memories, and lingering traces of feeling as light.
Visible CONNECTION explores interfaces of light linking the city and nature, and people and the city.
Visible IMAGINATION offers participatory and immersive expressions designed to stimulate creativity and inspiration.
Light Art Park
For a limited period, Light Art Park will transform Shinjuku Chuo Park into an immersive environment of light art. Under the artistic direction of Kenji Kohashi, who has led numerous international events and large-scale festivals including Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, artists from Japan and overseas will depict the “invisible Tokyo” through light.
Light Art Park is organized around four themes—Visible CITY, Visible NATURE, Visible HEART, and Visible CONNECTION. Throughout the venue, visitors will encounter works that give physical form to these themes, allowing them to experience the world of VISIBLE TOKYO as they walk through the park.
Featured 5 Works
GAIA / Visible HEART / Lawn Area (East) / Luke Jerram / United Kingdom
Courtesy of Light Art Collection
Making its highly anticipated Japan debut—an immersive experience of viewing Earth from space
Photo (c) R.o.R Festival & Ana Rojc
Created by Luke Jerram, known for works that cross artistic disciplines, GAIA is a monumental Earth installation at seven meters in diameter. Produced using high-resolution NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface, the work offers an immersive experience akin to viewing the planet from space. The installation will make its Japan debut at TOKYO LIGHTS 2026.
Embrace / Visible CITY / Fun More Time Hiroba / Beamhacker / Australia
Human connection expands outward as ripples of light
This participatory installation by Beamhacker, known for interactive works combining light and mirrors, invites visitors to join hands with the human-shaped silhouettes arranged around the piece. As they do so, ripples of light spread outward in a chain reaction, and the installation becomes increasingly dynamic through communication and cooperation among participants.
Liquid Universe: Sōbō Chūfu — An Unclassifiable Entomologia of the Luminous Swarm / Visible CONNECTION / Chobo-no-Mori / Yoichi Ochiai / Japan
A new installation by Yoichi Ochiai, where the lights of nature and the city intersect.
Created for TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 by Yoichi Ochiai, this new installation brings together different forms of light found in nature and in the city—such as fireflies, bioluminescent organisms, and LEDs—within a four-meter pillar of light. Amid imagery continuously generated by computational nature, the work invites visitors to reconsider the boundary between the natural and the artificial.
Visible TOWER / Visible CITY / Fun More Time Hiroba / V_T / Japan
This tower-shaped installation visualizes the memories and everyday activities of people passing through the city as “memories of light.” During the day, it reflects the surrounding urban landscape and its visitors like a mirror; at night, AI-generated collages of the city’s memories appear on an LED display. Visitors may also walk through the sculpture itself and experience these “memories of light” at close range. V_T：YAMACHANG / Kenji Kohashi / Naoya Murayama
INTER-WORLD/Co-cooner: Apparent motion of celestial bodies
/ Visible NATURE / Hana-no-Mori / Akihito Okunaka / Japan
A legacy work from Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai that evokes the cycles of nature
This experiential work was exhibited as an official program of Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025 at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Through a soft sculptural form that amplifies natural phenomena created by the interaction of air, water, and sunlight, the work encourages visitors to reflect on how human beings are connected to the world. Visitors are invited to step inside and experience being enveloped by pods of changing light.
Additional Works and Open Call Program
In addition to the featured works above, Light Art Park will include a range of other installations, including Seeds of Light— Egg of Hope, first exhibited at Burning Man in the Nevada desert in the United States; Photosynthesis, in which FLIGHTGRAF, a headliner at one of Europe’s leading light festivals, depicts the breathing cycle of plants; and TOKYO Hyakka Ryōran, which likens Tokyo’s individuality to a giant blooming flower. Throughout the venue, visitors will encounter light-based expressions that resonate with both the city and nature.
As opportunities to present light art in public spaces in Japan remain limited, the event has also held an open call and will exhibit works by emerging artists and students selected through the screening process. Through these efforts, TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 aims to help foster a new generation of artists and creators working in light-based expression.
1minute Projection Mapping Competition
The 1minute Projection Mapping Competition is one of the world’s most established and prestigious international projection mapping competitions, originating in Japan since 2012. Each year, creators compete for top honors with works running from one minute to one minute fifty-nine seconds. Bringing together leading creators from around the world as well as rising young talent, the competition offers a unique opportunity in Japan to experience a wide range of highly accomplished and distinctive works in one place.
The competition invited entries under the theme “Dialogue”. A total of 412 entries were received from 65 countries and regions around the world. Finalists selected from among these entries will compete for the Grand Prix.
Jury Member and Invited Artist
Ouchhh / Digital Media Artist / Turkey
A global creative new media studio that develops data-driven expression at the intersection of art and technology. Guided by the concept of “using data as paint and algorithms as brushes,” the studio creates immersive installations and public art powered by AI and data in locations around the world. Based in Istanbul, it has delivered more than 75 international projects and received numerous international honors, including the Red Dot Design Award.
Kentaro Tanaka / Video Creator / Graphic Designer (Winner of the previous competition) / Japan
Born in 2000 and raised in Sapporo, he won 1minute Projection Mapping 2024. He has participated in the Video Mapping Festival in Amiens, France, as well as an artist residency in Lille, France. Centering his practice on Cinema 4D, he works across 3DCG and graphic design, exploring visual expression inspired by subtle moments of discomfort and dissonance that surface in everyday life.
MCs for the International Competition Awards Ceremony
For the International Competition Awards Ceremony, Tetsuya Bessho and Aki Shibuya will serve as MCs.
Tetsuya Bessho – Actor; Representative of Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia
Aki Shibuya: Bilingual MC; Journalist
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2026, led by Mr. Bessho, will be held during the same period as this event, creating a connection between two international visual media festivals. Ms. Shibuya will return as MC for the fifth consecutive year since the 2021 competition, helping create a vibrant bilingual program in both Japanese and English.
Official Website of the 1minute Projection Mapping Competition:
https://1minute-pm.com/
Advance Registration Information
Please note, however, that for the 1minute Projection Mapping Competition, attendance in the viewing area will require advance registration on a first-come, first-served basis due to venue capacity limits.
1minute Projection Mapping Competition Viewing Area Registration
- Advance Registration Start: Thursday, April 28, 3:00 p.m.
- Venue: Viewing Area, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1 – Citizens’ Plaza
- Admission fee: Free
- Registration website: https://cloud-pass.jp/get/tokyolights2026
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1 – Citizens’ Plaza, the event venue
Event Overview: TOKYO LIGHTS 2026
TOKYO LIGHTS is a festival of light born in 2021 that illuminates Tokyo’s nights. Centered on an international projection mapping competition featuring creators from around the world and experiential entertainment that fuses light, art, and technology, the event sends a message of creativity and hope toward the future.
Event Title: TOKYO LIGHTS 2026
Venues:
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No.1, Tokyo Citizen’s Plaza
(2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023)
Shinjuku Chuo Park
(2-11 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
Dates (scheduled):
Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 31, 2026
1minute Projection Mapping Competition
- Screenings: Saturday, May 23; Sunday, May 24; and Sunday, May 31, 2026
- Screenings / Awards Ceremony: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Light Art Park
Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 31, 2026
Grand Finale
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Organizer:
Projection Mapping International Award TOKYO Executive Committee
Co-host:
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Official Website: https://tokyolights.jp
Social Media:
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/tokyolights_jp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyolights_jp/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokyolights.jp
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyolightsjp
Media Contact
Organization: TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 PR Office (Antil Inc.)
Contact Person: Ishida
Website: https://tokyolights.jp
Email: Send Email
Contact Number: +81368217863
City: Tokyo
Country:Japan
Release id:44956
The post Actress Tao Tsuchiya Named TOKYO LIGHTS 2026 Ambassador, 12 artworks announced for Light Art Park appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Italy, 15th May 2026 — IMBUED, a university spin-off from La Sapienza University of Rome, launched a Kickstarter campaign on 12 May 2026 to support the development of its MetaMuseum platform, a digital environment designed to facilitate participatory approaches to art and creative practice.
The campaign will run until 26 June 2026 with a funding target of GBP 65,000.
IMBUED is positioned as a human-centred platform that enables users to engage with artworks beyond passive viewing. The MetaMuseum integrates elements of exhibition space, creative tools, and community interaction, allowing participants to explore, interpret, and produce digital works. The platform is being designed to eventually integrate emotion-aware AI tools that support collaborative creativity and artistic exploration. Helping users reinterpret and evolve artworks in ways that reflect both creative intent and emotional context, without reducing the experience to purely automated generation.
The project is informed by the concept of the “Beholder’s Share,” whereby the viewer contributes to the meaning of an artwork. Within the platform, user interpretations may generate new outputs referred to as Certified Digital Artworks (CDAs), which can be registered via an integrated blockchain-based system.
A representative of IMBUED stated:
“The project is based on the principle ‘I Art Therefore I Am’, reflecting the view that creative expression is a universal capability. With ‘Let’s Make Art Happen’ as a guiding ethos, we are building a space where technology—including AI—supports human creativity rather than replacing it. The Kickstarter campaign is intended to support early access and community participation in the platform’s development.”
The initiative is developed through a multidisciplinary framework spanning neuroscience, psychology, physiology, and computer science, in collaboration with La Sapienza University of Rome. This foundation also informs IMBUED’s exploration of emotion-aware AI—systems designed to better understand how users experience and respond to creative work, rather than simply generating outputs on demand. The platform will contribute to ongoing research related to creativity and human perception.
Campaign Details:
· Launch Date: 9 May 2026
· End Date: 24 June 2026
· Funding Target: GBP 65,000
Indicative Stretch Objectives:
· GBP 200,000 – Android platform development
· GBP 300,000 – NFT and blockchain marketplace functionality
· GBP 500,000 – Advanced creative editor with expanded AI-assisted tools
· GBP 1,000,000 – Expansion into the United States and EMEA markets
The platform operates under the principle “0% Engagement — 100% Inspiration,” reflecting a design approach focused on creative interaction rather than maximising user retention metrics. AI within IMBUED is positioned as an enabling layer—enhancing exploration, interpretation, and collaboration—while keeping the human experience at the center.
About IMBUED
IMBUED is a digital art platform developed as a spin-off from La Sapienza University of Rome. The project brings together artistic practice, scientific research, and digital technologies—including emotion-aware AI—to support participatory models of creativity and more intuitive human–machine interaction.
Media Contact
Organization: IMBUED
Contact Person: IMBUED Team
Website: https://imbued.art/foundation
Email: Send Email
Country:Italy
Release id:45090
The post IMBUED to Launch Kickstarter for Human-Centred MetaMuseum Platform appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Brian Arteaga Strengthens Legal and Global Expansion Efforts Through Philanthropy and Innovation
United States, 15th May 2026 — Brian Arteaga, a Beverly Hills, California philanthropist, real estate investor, and law student, is advancing his long-term mission by deepening his work across philanthropy, global development, and legal innovation. Building on more than 15 years of service and investment activity, Brian Arteaga continues to expand initiatives designed to connect communities, create opportunity, and improve access to legal resources.
Brian Arteaga’s philanthropic efforts remain focused on underserved communities throughout Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and across California. Over the past 15 years, Brian Arteaga has supported youth programs, family assistance initiatives, and education-driven outreach. His international humanitarian work includes hands-on service efforts in Brazil, where he provided direct support to children in need of dental care.
In parallel with his charitable work, Brian Arteaga continues to expand his real estate portfolio across the United States. His holdings include multifamily and commercial properties in Nevada, Ohio, Georgia, and Texas. Brian Arteaga’s investment approach emphasizes long-term stability, sustainable development, and community-oriented growth.
Brian Arteaga is also strengthening his global footprint through hospitality and development projects across Mexico, Thailand, Georgia, Spain, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. His international expansion strategy reflects a focus on high-growth regions and long-term value creation across emerging markets.
In the legal sector, Brian Arteaga continues to develop Legal Match Experts, a free platform connecting individuals with highly experienced attorneys nationwide. Each attorney on the platform has a minimum of 20 years of experience, ensuring users have access to seasoned legal professionals across a wide range of practice areas.
“Legal access should not be complicated or out of reach,” said Brian Arteaga. “My goal is to make it easier for people to connect with experienced attorneys who can truly help them.”
As Brian Arteaga prepares for the California Bar Exam, he is focused on integrating his legal education with his established background in business and philanthropy. His long-term vision includes expanding Legal Match Experts while continuing to scale his real estate and international development initiatives.
About Brian Arteaga
Brian Arteaga is a Beverly Hills, California philanthropist, real estate investor, law student, and entrepreneur. With over 15 years of philanthropic service, he has supported community programs and international humanitarian efforts. His real estate portfolio spans multiple U.S. states and global hospitality developments. Brian Arteaga is also the founder of Legal Match Experts, a platform dedicated to improving access to experienced legal representation nationwide.
Media Contact
Organization: Brian Arteaga
Contact Person: Brian Arteaga
Website: https://legallybrilliant.com/
Email: Send Email
Address:Beverly Hills, California, United States of America
Country:United States
Release id:45089
The post Brian Arteaga Strengthens Legal and Global Expansion Efforts Through Philanthropy and Innovation appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
Fortress Refocuses Agency Exclusively on Law Firm Clients, Drawing on Founder’s Decade-Plus in Legal Marketing
SEO and AI digital marketing agency returns to its legal industry roots under Founder & CEO Gerrid Smith
United States, 15th May 2026 — Fortress, an SEO and AI digital marketing agency, today announced that it is now accepting new clients exclusively from the legal industry. The shift reflects rising demand from law firms and the deep legal-vertical expertise of the agency’s leadership team. Existing non-legal clients will continue to be served without disruption.
Founder and CEO Gerrid Smith brings more than 20 years of digital marketing experience and over 12 years working specifically with law firms. He previously founded Black Fin, a well-known legal marketing agency, which he sold in 2020. Six years later, sustained demand from attorneys seeking results-driven SEO and digital strategy has drawn Smith and his team back to the vertical they know best.
“I built Fortress into a strong agency across multiple industries, and the legal work kept finding us along the way,” said Gerrid Smith, Founder and CEO of Fortress. “The timing is right to lean back in. Law firms want strategic, measurable marketing, and that’s exactly the work our team has spent more than a decade mastering. Refocusing Fortress on the legal industry lets us go all in on what we do best.”
Smith is joined by Lisa Carter, VP at Fortress, who worked alongside him at Black Fin before its sale. Together, they have spent more than a decade refining what works for law firm marketing, from local SEO and AI-driven search optimization to content strategy, technical audits, and link building tailored to competitive practice areas.
“Most agencies treat law firms like any other local business with a bigger budget,” Smith added. “That’s how firms end up with compliance violations, wasted ad spend, and rankings that never materialize. Legal marketing has its own rules, its own search behavior, and its own competitive dynamics. Firms deserve a team that has lived inside those realities, not one figuring it out on their dime.”
Fortress has produced results for firms across personal injury, criminal defense, family law, and estate planning practices. While Fortress does not publicly share its client list, the team is available to discuss specific case results and methodologies during consultations.
About Fortress
Fortress is an SEO and AI digital marketing agency now focused exclusively on serving law firms. Led by Founder and CEO Gerrid Smith, the team combines over a decade of dedicated legal marketing experience with a results-first approach to SEO, content, and online visibility. Learn more at fortressgrowth.com.
Media Contact
Organization: Fortress
Contact Person: Gerrid Smith Founder and CEO
Website: https://fortressgrowth.com/
Email: Send Email
Country:United States
Release id:45083
The post Fortress Refocuses Agency Exclusively on Law Firm Clients, Drawing on Founder’s Decade-Plus in Legal Marketing appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
IMBUED to Launch Kickstarter for Human-Centred MetaMuseum Platform
Brian Arteaga Strengthens Legal and Global Expansion Efforts Through Philanthropy and Innovation
Fortress Refocuses Agency Exclusively on Law Firm Clients, Drawing on Founder’s Decade-Plus in Legal Marketing
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