Roppongi Illumination Young People Risk Safety for Perfect Shots

The building managers and police officials discuss the current situation!

The taxi driver, who is annoyed by people running into the road or ignoring traffic signals for photography, says, “This happens a lot around this time of year.”

“Every year, when it’s the illumination season, many people rush in. Now, there are security guards standing at the crosswalks, so it’s somewhat better, but there are still people who run into the road to take pictures, so we can’t let our guard down.”

Regarding the current situation where people engage in dangerous behavior to take “Instagrammable” photos, when asked for a response from the Roppongi Hills management, which oversees the illumination event, they replied, “We are aware of the dangerous behavior, and we have deployed security guards as a response.”

“This year, many people have come earlier than usual, eager to enjoy the illuminations. We must address this situation, so we have increased the number of security guards to ensure people can enjoy the illuminations safely.

As a result of our efforts, the number of dangerous incidents has decreased. However, with even more people expected to visit during the upcoming Christmas period, we are still considering further measures. We plan to implement a safety-first approach” (Mori Building Town Management Division).

What do the police officers in charge of this area think about these dangerous actions?

“The police officers in charge are aware of the issue. They are increasing patrols and raising awareness. As a result, there have been fewer people engaging in visibly dangerous actions, but since it is still a place visited by many, they will continue to patrol.”

Although it is a popular tourist spot visited by many every year, there is a possibility that the illuminations could be canceled due to disruptive behavior. One can only hope that such a situation does not occur, and that Tokyo’s famous spots remain free from such issues.