The Shibuya Archive Photo Exhibition 2025, organized by Commons Archive Collective (CAC), will be held for 13 days from November 18th to 30th at the event space "8/COURT" on the 8th floor of Shibuya Hikarie.

Following on from the "Shibuya Koen-dori Photo Exhibition 1977-1997" (2021) and the "Shibuya Archive Photo Exhibition" (2023), this project attracted approximately 6,600 visitors last year. With photographs submitted from a variety of sources, including local shopping streets, businesses, museums, and government agencies, the exhibition has been highly praised for its ability to bring to light the multi-layered image of the city of Shibuya in three dimensions.

Shibuya is undergoing rapid redevelopment, and changes in buildings and streetscapes are overtaking people's memories. This exhibition is not merely a nostalgic look at these disappearing landscapes, but an attempt to pass them on to future generations as a "record of the city." CAC defines an archive as "not just preserving it, but supporting the flow of passing it on to the next generation and utilizing it," and aims to rediscover the city's memories as shared property (commons) through photography.

過去開催時の会場の様子

This year's theme is "Shibuya's Named Streets." Approximately 170 photographs of Shibuya from the Taisho, Showa, and Heisei eras will be on display. Shibuya is home to many unique streets, including Dogenzaka, Koen-dori, Bunkamura-dori, and Center-gai. According to CAC research, approximately 70 "named streets" have been identified within a radius of approximately one kilometer from Shibuya Station. This exhibition will categorize 30 of these streets and reconstruct them across the ages as a place where topography, commerce, culture, and lifestyle intersect. Research materials showing the background and origins of each street, as well as a map listing the names of the remaining 40 streets, will also be on display.

A view of Shibuya that can no longer be seen

The venue is lined with precious photographs that record Shibuya of the past, such as Dogenzaka, where movie theaters lined the streets, the tram running on Miyamasuzaka, the cable car that passed over Shibuya Station, the Metropolitan Expressway Route 3 under construction, and the bustle of Koibumi Yokocho and Meriken Yokocho. In addition, by displaying the photographs alongside a timeline exhibit that traces events in Shibuya chronologically, the changes in the city can be experienced more clearly.

写真下のQRコードをスマホで読み込むと、過去に撮影したその場所の現在の風景が見られる

In addition, there are many exhibits that allow you to get a bird's-eye view of the past and present, such as a large map plotting the streets of Shibuya and Google Street View, which allows you to compare the past and present.

During the event, past archive catalogs and original goods will also be on sale. Electronic payments are accepted, and related books can also be purchased at the online store "CAC SHOP."

Venue