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.
Dubai, UAE, August 1st, 2026, FinanceWire
Fintech Pioneer Fuses Blockchain and Dedicated Content Delivery Network to Replace Broken 48-Hour Legacy Banking Rails with Instant, Ultra-Low-Fee Transactions
TaqFlow, a next-generation cross-border payment platform engineered specifically for Central Asian corridors, announced its official emergence from stealth mode and the public launch of pre-orders for its high-speed financial network. The platform solves the region’s most critical commercial pain points: slow settlement times, high transaction fees, and crippling currency volatility.
Unlike traditional financial institutions, the team behind TaqFlow is comprised entirely of digital nomads who have spent years traveling, living, and operating businesses across different countries. Having managed international operations on the move, the founders intimately understand the severe friction, predatory fees, and operational bottlenecks tied to cross-border capital movement.
“The spark for TaqFlow happened on a beach in Bali, of all places,” said co-founder Giorgi Beridze. “I was speaking with one of my eventual co-founders, who was venting about the sheer frustration of moving money between Georgia and Kazakhstan. The transaction took over two days to clear. In that short window, currency fluctuations ate away at the capital, costing him the equivalent of several hundred euros. It was a lightbulb moment for both of us. As nomads, we knew this pain intimately. We realized that the existing cross-border rails in Central Asia were fundamentally broken—exposed to systemic delays, unpredictable volatility, and unnecessary costs.”
TaqFlow eliminates these systemic bottlenecks by introducing a proprietary, dual-layer architecture built entirely from scratch. The platform is harnessing the innate speed and cryptographic security of the blockchain, layering it beneath a custom-built, dedicated content delivery network (CDN). This physical infrastructure will bypass standard public internet latency, allowing TaqFlow to route, read, and settle B2B transactions in mere seconds at a fraction of standard banking fees.
The rapid velocity of the platform removes the financial limbo that historically stifled trade along the historic Silk Road corridors, which inspired the company’s name. A “Taq” was the historic domed archway where ancient global merchants gathered to exchange currency; TaqFlow has modernized this concept into a digital gateway.
“As a young startup, our greatest asset is that we aren’t saddled by legacy systems or yesterday’s way of thinking,” a co-founder continued. “Traditional institutions are trapped inside layers of obsolete technical debt. This blank slate allows us to build cleaner, operate with zero friction, and pass those massive cost savings directly to our customers. We are already looking at how we can incorporate AI natively into our infrastructure to push processing speeds even higher and completely transform the cross-border customer experience.”
The launch arrives at a pivotal moment. Institutional investors from Europe, the Americas, and the Gulf region are increasingly turning their attention toward Central Asia’s rapidly growing economic landscape. TaqFlow aims to act as the primary financial bedrock that enables this influx of global capital to reach local markets seamlessly.
“The Central Asian economy has been overlooked for far too long,” co-founder Logan Jenkins noted. “When we look back five years from now, our greatest legacy won’t just be the volume of capital we processed; it will be the community of small businesses and startups we lifted up. We want to be the foundation that helps young enterprises get off the ground, seamlessly scale across borders, protect their hard-earned margins, and grow at velocities they never thought possible.”
TaqFlow is now accepting pre-orders from businesses and corporate partners across authorized Central Asian corridors. Enterprises looking to optimize their cross-border liquidity and eliminate transaction delays can learn more or request platform access by visiting TaqFlow’s launch page.
About TaqFlow
TaqFlow is a modern cross-border payment platform dedicated to unlocking the economic potential of Central Asia. Founded by a team of global digital nomads and fintech innovators, TaqFlow bridges ancient regional trading heritage with modern decentralized technology. By fusing blockchain tech with an ultra-low-latency dedicated network, the platform provides businesses with a fast, secure, and highly automated digital gateway to move capital across borders seamlessly, stripping out the delays and predatory fees of legacy banking rails.
Contact
Marketing & Media Relations
Aditi Gupta
TaqFlow
sales@taqflow.io
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.
“Chosen One” brings together Kevin Gates’ younger brothers, D$AVAGE and BWA Ron, for a record rooted in family, hustle and legacy. With BWA Ron behind the production and D$AVAGE delivering raw street testimony, the two combine their talents to show their own worth while building on the foundation already established before them. The record represents chemistry, ambition and the next chapter of the BWA family – not just carrying the name, but proving what the younger brothers bring to it.
Check out “Chosen One” out now on all platforms and make sure you follow D$AVAGE on social media for his latest releases.
Connect:
Instagram – @svglife100
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.
United States, 1st Aug 2026 – Across the United States, sobriety is increasingly being embraced as a lifestyle rooted in wellness, purpose, and authentic connection rather than simply as recovery from addiction. As more people choose alcohol-free living and openly celebrate their personal milestones, demand is growing for meaningful sober merch, thoughtful sobriety gifts, and premium sober clothing that reflect resilience, identity, and hope.
This cultural shift is taking place alongside the rapid growth of the broader sober movement. Today, the Loosid ecosystem—which includes its sober community, recovery resources, marketplace, and lifestyle brand—has grown to more than 450,000 installs, generated 21.8 million user sessions, and helped facilitate nearly 198,000 friendships, highlighting the increasing demand for supportive, recovery-focused communities.
Rather than viewing sobriety as giving something up, many Americans now see it as gaining healthier relationships, stronger mental well-being, greater purpose, and a more intentional way of living. That evolving perspective is also changing how recovery is celebrated, creating demand for products that recognize progress, encourage conversations, and remind people of how far they have come.
Helping lead that conversation is Get Loosid, the lifestyle merchandise division of the Loosid brand. Built by people with lived recovery experience, Get Loosid was created to help individuals celebrate recovery proudly through meaningful products that represent strength, perseverance, and personal transformation.
The inspiration behind the brand is deeply personal.
Loosid was co-founded by MJ Gottlieb, whose own recovery journey revealed a challenge faced by many people entering sobriety: maintaining an alcohol-free lifestyle in a world where social activities often revolve around drinking. After achieving sobriety, Gottlieb envisioned a community that would prove sober living is not the end of fun but the beginning of a healthier and more fulfilling life. That vision ultimately grew into the Loosid ecosystem and later expanded with Get Loosid, giving people meaningful ways to celebrate their recovery every day.
Today, that philosophy resonates with a growing audience. More individuals are embracing the sober lifestyle not only because of recovery, but because they value wellness, mindfulness, and authentic relationships. Friends and family members are also looking for thoughtful ways to recognize important milestones, fueling demand for recovery gifts, personalized sobriety gifts, and keepsakes that celebrate resilience rather than focusing on past struggles.
Recovery experts have long recognized the importance of acknowledging milestones. Whether someone is celebrating thirty days, one year, or decades of sobriety, recognizing those achievements can reinforce confidence, strengthen accountability, and encourage continued progress.
As a result, soberversary gifts have become increasingly meaningful. Rather than giving generic presents, loved ones are choosing personalized items that commemorate sobriety anniversaries, birthdays, and personal accomplishments with messages that carry lasting emotional significance.
Get Loosid has responded to this growing movement by focusing on quality, personalization, and purpose instead of novelty merchandise.
One of the company’s most popular offerings is its personalized sobriety-date jewelry, allowing individuals to carry a daily reminder of the commitment they’ve made to themselves. Each piece serves as more than an accessory—it becomes a symbol of perseverance, hope, and the promise of another sober day.
Another favorite is the company’s customized “Sober Since” apparel, including premium sober t-shirts and sober hoodies that transform important recovery milestones into wearable expressions of pride. Rather than simply displaying a date, these pieces encourage meaningful conversations while helping individuals celebrate achievements they once thought impossible.
Get Loosid also offers thoughtfully designed artwork inspired by recovery, resilience, and transformation. Through inspirational décor featuring recognizable recovery symbols and meaningful addiction art, individuals can create personal spaces that reflect optimism, gratitude, and continued growth. These pieces serve as daily reminders that recovery is not defined by what has been left behind but by everything that has been gained.
For many members of the recovery community, these products represent something much larger than merchandise. They become visible reminders that recovery deserves recognition and that every milestone—regardless of how big or small—is worth celebrating.
This message aligns closely with Loosid’s broader mission of helping change public perception surrounding sobriety. Rather than allowing recovery to remain hidden by stigma, the company encourages individuals to celebrate their journeys openly, inspiring others while helping normalize sober living as a positive and fulfilling lifestyle.
That mission has already helped build one of the nation’s fastest-growing sober communities. Through the Loosid platform, members can connect with peers, track sobriety milestones, access recovery resources, discover wellness opportunities, and build meaningful relationships within a supportive environment dedicated to long-term success.
As the sober lifestyle movement continues to expand, consumers are increasingly seeking brands that reflect authenticity, purpose, and community rather than simply selling products. Industry trends suggest this demand will continue as more Americans prioritize wellness, intentional living, and meaningful self-expression through the products they choose and the stories they share.
Looking ahead, Get Loosid plans to continue developing premium collections that celebrate every stage of the recovery journey while supporting the larger mission of the Loosid ecosystem. By combining thoughtful design with lived experience, the company hopes to inspire more conversations that replace stigma with understanding and shame with pride.
The future of sober living is no longer defined by what people leave behind—it is defined by the lives they build, the communities they create, and the milestones they celebrate together.
Individuals interested in learning more about Get Loosid, exploring its sober lifestyle collections, or discovering resources that support long-term sober living can visit https://getloosid.com.
About Get Loosid
Get Loosid is a United States-based sober lifestyle brand dedicated to celebrating recovery through premium apparel, personalized gifts, jewelry, accessories, home décor, and milestone merchandise. Built by people with lived recovery experience, the company empowers individuals to wear and share their sobriety with pride. As part of the broader Loosid ecosystem, Get Loosid continues to inspire hope, resilience, and authentic community by creating meaningful products that celebrate transformation, personal growth, and sober living. The company’s mission is simple yet powerful: to help create a world where recovery is celebrated openly, every milestone matters, and every sober day becomes a reminder that hope is stronger than stigma.
Media Contact
Organization: Get Loosid
Contact Person: MJ Gottlieb
Website: https://getloosid.com/
Email: Send Email
Country:United States
Release id:47818
The post The Growing Demand for Sober Lifestyle Products Reflects a Changing Culture 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.
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