New Urban Area for Continuous Innovation

Takanawa Gateway City is a newly developed area in Tokyo's Takanawa district. It is known as the birthplace of Japan's first railway, built in 1872. The tracks running above the bay were a groundbreaking innovation for their time. Since its grand opening in March 2025, this ultra-modern urban area has served as an experimental site where we create ways to lead a fulfilled life a century into the future.

Venue:

 Gateway Park (in front of Takanawa Gateway Station)

Event Period:

 February 5–11, 2026

Overview

Transforming Gateway Park with Dynamic Projection Mapping

The waterfront area next to Takanawa Gateway Station in Tokyo came alive with "TAKANAWA LIGHT JOURNEY," a spectacular projection mapping event hosted at Gateway Park from February 5–11, 2026. The event showcased two premier visual pieces, "Time Voyage – A Light Path of Memories" and "The TAKANAWA," which seamlessly integrated video, spatial audio, synchronized lighting and dynamic fountain displays. The production attracted over 50,000 visitors in total turning the entire venue into an immersive, multisensory environment. Panasonic served as the core technical partner for this milestone event, providing support for everything from hardware selection to on-site projection adjustments and live-operations management.

Why Panasonic?

Total System Support for Advanced Visual Expressions

Four Panasonic 3-Chip DLP™ projectors were deployed to bring the massive 36m x 7m main display to life. As the world's smallest and lightest DLP™ projectors in the 20,000-lumen class,* they enabled seamless installation in tight spaces. Panasonic's integrated system included advanced media processors for video output and was capable of receiving execution commands directly from a master PC that controlled overall multi-sensory production, including sound, lighting and fountains. This simplified, highly efficient configuration ensured stable operations and fast on-site adjustments. Furthermore, Panasonic successfully introduced an innovative production system utilizing moving mirrors, a milestone achievement for outdoor projection mapping in Japan. This technology allowed visuals to sweep dynamically across a vast architectural landscape, expanding the horizons of visual expression and elevating the experiential value for audiences.

*As of October 2022. Among DLP™ laser projectors with 16,000 lumens or higher (based on nominal mass and dimensions).

Key Projection Highlights

Expanding the World of Video with Innovative Moving Mirrors

Some segments of the projected artwork featured dynamic visuals made　possible by moving mirrors. By attaching a mirror head to the lens of a PT-RQ35K projector, the system shifted the projected visuals dynamically and in perfect synchronization with the image's movement. Mr. Ishita from the Projection Mapping Association of Japan, who oversaw the creative direction of the project, shared his insights: "Takanawa Gateway City is using advanced technology as an experimental site where we create ways to lead a fulfilled life a century into the future. Given Takanawa's tradition of innovation, we felt that a production incorporating Panasonic's new moving-mirror technology aligned perfectly with Takanawa's historical status. We leveraged the unique capabilities of moving mirrors to project well beyond the boundaries of the main screen, expanding the visual world and expressing a sense of spatial depth. By projecting onto the curved walls and pillars, we delivered a projection mapping experience with an exceptional sense of three-dimensionality."

Moving mirrors projecting visuals onto walls, the ceiling and the ground

High-precision Projection Design Adapted to Complex
Architectural Shapes

The primary projection surface was Takanawa Gateway City's exterior facade, called "The Linkpillar 1." Four high-resolution projectors, renowned for their exceptional color reproduction, were used to project large-screen images. Mr. Tsuchihashi from Panasonic Projector & Display Corporation, who managed system adjustments and on-site operation, explained: "In addition to an exterior wall with a three-layered structure featuring depth, the building itself is curved, creating an exceptionally challenging projection environment. On-site, we used complimentary software with advanced projection adjustment tools, such as automatic calibration, to perform geometric correction, distortion adjustment and precise masking. Besides establishing a primary viewing location, we fine-tuned the projection to ensure the images remained coherent when viewed from other angles. We executed a flawless 36m x 7m screen incorporating highly complex architectural shapes." Furthermore, the production system with moving mirrors was engineered to be compatible with existing technical workflows. In the future, we expect it to be used for various other spatial productions."

"The TAKANAWA"

"Time Voyage – A Light Path of Memories"

PT-RQ35K equipped with a mirror head

PT-RQ25K units projecting the main visuals
(two units on each side at the rear of the venue).

In the Event Organizer's Own Words

Successfully Hosting an Event to Boost Urban Vibrancy

A representative of the Takanawa Gateway Area Projection Mapping Executive Committee remarked: "This event, a collaboration with Minato City, a local tourism association and private-sector businesses, was designed to showcase Takanawa's unique appeal and help invigorate Tokyo's nighttime tourism. Despite a tight schedule, Panasonic's expertise and experience with projection technology ensured a high level of stability. Although the venue was rather bright at night due to lighting from nearby commercial facilities, the high-brightness projectors cut through the ambient light to deliver vivid imagery. By integrating moving mirrors to dynamically utilize the architectural space, we achieved a distinctive projection mapping experience. Visitor surveys confirmed that people found the visuals beautiful and the staging spectacular. This proves that the event allowed visitors to experience a different side of the area. We will continue to expand our nighttime tourism offerings in order to stimulate the local economy through increased tourism spending."

Creative Director
Mr. Michiyuki Ishita
Creative Director
COLORs CREATION Co.Ltd.
Projection Mapping Association of Japan

Note: Title at time of implementation

System design & operation
Mr. Nobuhiro Tsuchihashi
AV Consulting Section,
Sales Promotion Department,
Marketing Division
Panasonic Projector & Display Corporation

Note: Title at time of implementation