Our colleagues, Sako and Ethan, traveled to Australia on a business trip.
Their trip took place from May 31 to June 4, 2026, giving them the opportunity to experience Vivid Sydney.
Vivid Sydney is a world-renowned creative festival held annually in Australia, celebrating light, music, ideas, and food. Since its launch in 2009, it has become one of Sydney’s signature events, transforming the city into a spectacular nighttime art space and attracting millions of visitors from Australia and around the world.
On Argyle Street, just north of Sydney Observatory, there is a tunnel about 30 meters long, and the entire ceiling was illuminated with projection mapping.Many visitors were lying on their backs on the road, enjoying the powerful sound and vivid light displays, so Ethan and I decided to join them and watch from the ground as well.There was no traffic at the time, possibly because the street had been temporarily closed to vehicles, although it is normally an ordinary road.We have to admit that we did not quite understand the concept behind the visuals, but it was certainly an unforgettable experience!
Another sight that caught our attention at the station was this double-decker commuter train.
In Sydney, double-decker trains have long been used on many suburban lines as an efficient way to carry large numbers of passengers. In Japan, double-decker cars can occasionally be seen on Shinkansen and certain limited express trains, but cities where they are widely used for everyday commuting are relatively rare around the world.
Seeing the train from the platform, we noticed the large number of seats arranged across the upper and lower levels, reflecting a design intended to reduce congestion while maintaining passenger comfort.
Traveling abroad reminds us that even the transportation infrastructure we often take for granted reflects the unique characteristics and ingenuity of each country and region. Experiences like these provide valuable opportunities to gain new perspectives and ideas.
At Sohatsu Systems Laboratory, we continue to pursue research and development that creates new value while keeping a close eye on technological trends and changes in social infrastructure both in Japan and overseas. We look forward to sharing more insights and the latest information from abroad through our blog.
