At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, approximately 5.15 million people in the entire Tokyo metropolitan area (around 3.52 million people in Tokyo) became stranded and many were unable to return home due to the suspension of railway services. As a result, main roads around major railway stations were extremely congested until dawn. In the event of a large-scale disaster such as an earthquake directly hitting the Tokyo metropolitan area, most public transportation systems in the metropolitan area would be suspended. Therefore, it is estimated that approximately 230,000 people (*1) would become stranded in Shibuya Ward.

Under these circumstances, Shibuya Ward is facing the urgent challenge to address the issue of stranded visitors (people visiting Shibuya Ward who are not residents of the ward, including those working or attending school), which includes foreigners. The number of these visitors is increasing due to changes in social conditions and the environment surrounding the ward. On the other hand, elementary schools and parks within the ward serve as "temporary gathering places" where people can temporarily observe the situation, but they do not provide sufficient space for both ward residents and visitors to use. Therefore, especially around Shibuya Station, evacuation areas have been designated as “temporary evacuation sites'' which are safe places where visitors can temporarily take shelter in the event of a disaster.

This concept of temporary evacuation is a new approach, and it is important for visitors to the city to be aware of these "temporary evacuation sites” (*2) where they can stay safely until facilities for accepting stranded people are opened.

Through the "Shibuya Arrow Project," we are disseminating information to make temporary evacuation sites more widely known while, at the same time, enriching the cityscape by creating art in public spaces.

And the "Shibuya Arrow Project Executive Committee" was established to realize this solution.

From now on, the executive committee will proceed with the project of installing many attractive and memorable artworks throughout the ward, striving to disseminate information and improve awareness among visitors, and balancing artistic expression with evacuation guidance.

As a result, we believe that these artworks will not only adorn the streets of Shibuya, but also prove invaluable in raising awareness and preparedness for emergencies in our daily lives.

We also have high hopes that the increase in this kind of art with a purpose within the ward will lead to the further development of Shibuya.

As a shopping association district that welcomes many visitors on a daily basis, we have always thought that in the event of a disaster the protection of customers and evacuation guidance are important issues.

As a countermeasure, this initiative to spread information about the existence of temporary evacuation shelters to those unable to return home through the use of art is very characteristic of Shibuya. We believe that it will be effective in raising the awareness of visitors to the city, so the shopping association is actively supporting and promoting this initiative.

In addition, if the project is conducted by an executive committee in which various groups and organizations participate, I believe that it is possible to approach the project with free thinking, rather than a uniform approach led by an administrative entity. We will continue to promote this initiative and assist with evacuation guidance in the event of a disaster, and through these efforts we hope that visitors to the city will also recognize that Shibuya Ward is safe and secure.