Have you ever been to a concert or nightclub where the lighting alone already left a lasting impression and completely transformed the atmosphere? I think most of us have. But who is behind it, and what does the job actually involve?\nWe had the pleasure of speaking with AKIRA ISHIYAMA, a lighting operator, designer, director, and technician who works on everything from large-scale concerts at venues like the Nippon Budokan to small intimate nightclubs. We talked about the behind the scenes of his work, the most common misconceptions about his job, what skills it takes and how much thought and concept is actually behind lighting at every event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you! To start off, could you please introduce yourself? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My name is Akira Ishiyama and I work in lighting for nightclubs, live shows, and events. I\u2019m 42 years old and originally from Kawasaki.\nOutside of work, I got back into tennis about seven years ago after playing in high school. I now play once or twice a week and regularly participate in matches, although when work gets busy, I sometimes can\u2019t play at all.\nAnother hobby I\u2019ve picked up through my work is DJing. I occasionally get invited to perform and entertain the crowd. I mainly play House, Deep House, Techno, and Drum and Bass, and I\u2019m fortunate to get a great response from the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n