The city of Shibuya, which is undergoing redevelopment, has undergone a major transformation in the past decade. Starting with the opening of Shibuya Hikarie in 2012, redevelopment of the area around the station has progressed rapidly, and new commercial facilities such as SHIBUYA STREAM, SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE East Tower, Shibuya Fukuras, Shibuya Sakura Stage, and SHIBUYA AXSH have been born one after another. On the other hand, it is not uncommon to suddenly forget the buildings that once stood there, wondering, "What was here before?" The memory of a city is closely linked to the buildings, and when they are gone, the memories also fade and eventually disappear into oblivion. This is a little sad, but cities change with the times, repeating their metabolism in this way. Shibuya is a city where this tendency is particularly strong. This speed of change is what makes Shibuya so appealing.

While the memories of Shibuya are gradually fading as redevelopment progresses, many of the scenes and images of "Shibuya today" and "Shibuya under redevelopment" remain in the music videos released by artists. The music video for Nogizaka46's song "Enthusiast's Relief," released on YouTube last week on August 14, also uses the former site of Tokyu Department Store as a location. Tokyu Department Store will close on January 31, 2023, bringing an end to its 55-year history. The Shibuya Upper West Project, which aims to build a large 36-story complex on the site and complete it in 2027, is currently underway. The old department store is currently being demolished, but the music video was filmed at the construction site.

The construction site has an atmosphere reminiscent of a war-torn building or city, with a concrete staircase, elevator hall, ceilings and walls, and an inorganic floor without windows, where the girls perform a sharp performance. In the final scene after the song ends, a video that appears to have been taken by a drone gradually fades into the sky, and the girls get smaller and smaller, while the cityscape with its sparkling illuminations spreads out... At this point, the extraordinary world of the construction site and reality suddenly connect, and you realize, "Oh, this is Bunkamura Street. This is the Tokyu Main Store."

Changes in the redevelopment project for Tokyu Department Store Main Branch. Demolition work has been completed and construction will begin for completion in fiscal 2027. Left) Photographed in January 2023 Right) Photographed in August 2024

What is the appeal of using a redevelopment construction site as a location? One is that the changing emotions such as nostalgia and melancholy felt in a city undergoing redevelopment, such as past and future, life and death, hope and despair, are elements that deepen the worldview and narrative of the song. Furthermore, the special space of a construction site in the middle of demolition, which cannot be built on a set, giving the impression of "ruins" and "desolateness," plays a role in creating dynamic and impactful images that go beyond the boundaries of conventional music videos.

In addition to Nogizaka46's song "Ketsuen no Sabaeguchi," we would like to introduce some previously released music videos set in "Shibuya under redevelopment" and "Shibuya that has already disappeared." The works, which were filmed on construction sites with special permission, are valuable because they could only be shot at that moment, and will be passed down as a valuable digital archive that preserves the memories of the city along with the songs for future generations.

■ Shibuya Sakura Stage / "Goodbye Today" (Aimyon)

On February 14, 2020, Aimyon's music video for "Sayonara no Kyou ni," the theme song for Nippon Television's "news zero," was released on YouTube. The location is the redevelopment area of Sakuragaokacho. Aimyon's performance at the construction site before construction begins is impressive. Sandwiched between National Route 246 and the JR line, the area was cut off and isolated from the center of Shibuya Station, but with the relocation of the JR Shibuya Station Shinminami ticket gate and the full-scale opening of Shibuya Sakura Stage in July 2024, a new town is being born.

Changes in the redevelopment of the Sakuragaokaguchi area (Shibuya Sakura Stage) Left: Photographed in October 2018 Right: July 2024

■ SHIBUYA STREAM / "Silent Majority" (Keyakizaka46)

Formed as the second in the "Sakamichi Series" following Nogizaka46, which is produced by Yasushi Akimoto, Keyakizaka46 made a striking debut on April 6, 2016 with "Silent Majority." The music video was filmed at the former site of TOKYU TOYOKO LINE 's old Shibuya Station. The girls put on a sharp dance performance in the middle of a construction site with huge heavy machinery standing here and there. In September 2018, SHIBUYA STREAM, a high-rise complex housing Google offices, a hotel, a concert hall and more, opened at the same site. This is a valuable video record of Shibuya under redevelopment.

Changes in the Shibuya Station South Block Redevelopment (SHIBUYA STREAM, Shibuya River) Left) Photographed in September 2012 Right) Photographed in July 2021

■ Former Shibuya Parco / "The day Parco disappeared from Shibuya" (Keyakizaka46)

Keyakizaka46's second single "Sekai ni wa Ai Shikanai" was released on August 10th, 2016. The music video for "Shibuya kara PARCO ga Kieta Hi" (The Day PARCO Disappeared from Shibuya), a solo song by Keyakizaka46 center Hirate Yurina, which is included in the single, was released on YouTube on July 23rd of the same year. The music video was shot on August 7th of the same year at Shibuya PARCO, which was temporarily closed due to reconstruction. Clad in a bright red suit, Hirate puts on a sharp gaze and a sharp performance. Furthermore, during the chorus, she repeats "PARCO, PARCO..." over and over again on the rooftop of PARCO, where the "PARCO" logo shines brightly, making it an unforgettable song once you've heard it.

Shibuya Parco reconstruction Left) Photo taken in July 2007 Right) Photo taken in June 2023

■Toyoko Line, Old Shibuya Station Platform / Ai (Acoustic Version) (Hata Motohiro)

"Ai (Acoustic Version)" was released in March 2010. It was shot in one take with one camera on the central platform between platforms 2 and 3, where trains stop, after the last train. Hata Motohiro sits alone on the platform late at night, singing and playing his guitar. The image of the old Shibuya Station, beloved for its kamaboko roof, along with Hata's beautiful singing voice, will be remembered as an archive of the city.

Changes to the Toyoko Line old Shibuya Station platform (above-ground station building). The Toyoko Line has been moved underground, but the through passage connecting SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE and SHIBUYA STREAM has been recreated to recall the old Shibuya Station with its kamaboko roof, tracks, and eyeglass-shaped (crumb-shaped) walls. Left) Photographed in April 2012 Right) Photographed in July 2024

Interviews and writing

Editorial Department: Takashi Fujii

Shibuya registrar. In addition to Shibuya of Culture information, seasonal news and topics, it will spell write that feel every day.