Industry Trends

What Are Policy-Purpose Negotiated Contracts? How Japanese Local Governments Can Contract Startups Without Bidding, with a Projection Mapping Example

Japan’s Enforcement Order of the Local Autonomy Act lets local governments procure new products and services without bidding from businesses they certify. Tokyo builds this into its startup programs as “policy-purpose negotiated contracts.” We explain the system, its 191 contracts nationwide in MIC’s survey, and a projection mapping example.

13 Local Government Light Events and Projection Mapping Projects: Comparing Aims, Budgets and Visitor Numbers from Public Records

Using calls for proposals, financial statements and press releases for 13 cases, including those of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Osaka and Kagawa Prefecture, we sorted out the aims, budgets and visitor numbers of light events. Contract ceilings range from ¥9,500,000 to ¥265,000,000, and the way visitors are counted also differs from case to case.

Drone Show Guinness World Records 2026: 71,207 Drones in a Week in Texas and 33,615 Flown Simultaneously in Sichuan

Drone light shows kept breaking Guinness World Records in 2026. In Texas, the record for “most drones launched in a week” was broken in both spring and autumn, and in Sichuan, China, 33,615 drones flown simultaneously were certified.

Frieze London and Art Basel Paris 2026: Paris Draws Over 200 Exhibitors from 41 Countries and Regions, Including Three Tokyo Galleries

In October 2026, Frieze London and Frieze Masters were held in London and Art Basel Paris in Paris. Paris brought together more than 200 exhibitors from 41 countries and regions, including three Tokyo galleries.

Las Vegas Sphere’s “The Wizard of Oz” Sells More Than 4 Million Tickets: A New Show in 2027 and Abu Dhabi Completion by Late 2029

“The Wizard of Oz,” the immersive film experience at Sphere, the spherical venue in Las Vegas, has sold more than 4 million tickets in total. The operator expects a new show to open in 2027 and its second venue, in Abu Dhabi, to be completed by the end of 2029.

Senso-ji Projection Wins an Excellence Award at the Projection Mapping Tokyo Award and MUSE Gold; 2026 Edition from October 30

A projection onto Senso-ji Temple’s Hozomon Gate, Five-Story Pagoda and Nitenmon Gate in December 2025 received an Excellence Award at the Projection Mapping Tokyo Award and Gold at the MUSE Creative Awards 2026.

[2026] Projection Mapping and Immersive Exhibition Production Companies in Japan: Key Firms and Their Work

From projections on castles, temples, shrines and government buildings to touring exhibitions, permanent venues and shipboard theaters, we sort out the planning and production companies behind events officially announced in Japan in 2025–2026, along with budgets in public calls for proposals and permit procedures.

Visitor Numbers at Digital Art Venues and Immersive Exhibitions: Official Figures from teamLab, ARTE MUSEUM and Touring Shows

In The Art Newspaper’s 2025 survey, teamLab’s two Tokyo venues appeared in the same table as art museums. We sort out visitor numbers for venues and exhibitions, along with who announced them, the periods covered and how they were counted.

What Is the Nighttime Economy? Definitions and Policies of the National Government, Tokyo and Kyoto, with Light and Art Examples in Japan

Definitions of night differ: the Japan Tourism Agency uses 18:00 to 6:00 the next morning, while the Tokyo Metropolitan Government uses around sunset to around sunrise. The national government’s new plan treats nighttime cultural-property experiences as a way to disperse demand. We sort out examples from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to Kyoto, Yokohama and Osaka.

Immersive Exhibitions at Art Museums and Museums: 2025–2026 Examples and Admission at the Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art and More

Museums that place a video space in one room of a special exhibition, museums that open separately ticketed theaters, and touring exhibitions organized by broadcasters and newspapers: we sort out examples from 2025–2026 in a consistent format covering venue, admission, organizers and production.

Agency for Cultural Affairs Requests ¥233.5 Billion for Fiscal 2027; Japan Tourism Agency Seeks ¥180 Billion Funded by the International Tourist Tax

The Agency for Cultural Affairs is seeking ¥233.5 billion, more than double its previous-year budget, with new programs including ¥64.9 billion in support for developing creators and others. The Japan Tourism Agency has requested ¥180 billion funded by the International Tourist Tax. The final amounts will be decided in the upcoming budget process.

One Year After Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai: Where Did the Pavilions and Exhibits Go? A Permanent Theater in Yokohama and the Grand Ring’s Timber

A year after the Expo closed, the “null²” pavilion has become a permanent theater in Yokohama, and exhibits have moved to science museums, airports and art museums. About 3,900 m³ of the Grand Ring has been transferred to local governments and others.

13.0% Viewed Art in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Opinion Survey: How to Read “Art” That Includes Media Art, and Museum Statistics

The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ opinion survey counts media art as part of “art,” and 13.0% of respondents went out to view art in 2025. Together with museum statistics, we use primary sources to sort out how digital art is counted.

What Is Immersive Theater? Trends and Major Productions in Japan in 2026, and the Situation Abroad

Immersive theater lets audiences walk through the venue and step into the story. Immersive Fort Tokyo has closed, but productions staged in hotels, city streets, ferries and shrines continue. We sort out the current situation from organizers’ announcements.

Laser Projector Trends 2026: Higher Brightness, RGB Lasers, Automatic Multi-Unit Calibration and Outdoor Projection

A 30,000 lm 4K unit weighing about 35 kg, a 42,000 lm three-chip DLP unit and RGB laser units supporting Rec.2020: we read changes in projection equipment from manufacturers’ announcements in 2025–2026.

What Are the Light Pollution Guidelines? Their Relationship to Light-Ups and Illuminations, Local Ordinances and Dark Sky Places

The Ministry of the Environment’s Light Pollution Guidelines (revised March 2021) also cover lighting for light-ups and events. We sort out the considerations for landscape lighting, the ordinances of Ibara City and Tottori Prefecture, and Japan’s four Dark Sky Places.

Attendance and Economic Impact of Light Events: Osaka Festival of the Lights, Sapporo Snow Festival, Kobe Luminarie and More

Osaka Prefecture estimated the economic ripple effect of the Osaka Festival of the Lights 2025 at about ¥803.2 billion, and Sapporo City put the induced production of the 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival at ¥67.9 billion. We sort out the published figures together with how they were calculated.

Guinness World Records for Projection Mapping: What Was Certified at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and Records Abroad

In February 2024, TOKYO Night & Light at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building was certified with a record of 13,904.956 m² for permanent projection onto a building. We sort out how record titles are categorized, the procedures, and records abroad.

Light Festivals Around the World 2026–2027: Dates and Open Calls for Lyon, Vivid Sydney and Amsterdam

Amsterdam opens on November 26 and Lyon on December 5. Sydney and Prague have also announced their 2027 dates. We sort out the dates and scale of major light festivals, how their open calls for works operate and their official attendance figures.