Tokyo Tower and Other Towers Lit Up in Red on January 29
Is It to Celebrate Hirano Sho’s Color or Chinese New Year?
So, picture this: I’m standing in the middle of Tokyo, staring up at Tokyo Tower, which is
glowing this stunning, fiery red. My first thought? “Oh my gosh, is this for Hirano Sho?!” (For those who don’t know, Hirano Sho is a super popular Japanese actor, and red is kind of his thing.) I mean, it made sense in my head—Tokyo Tower lit up in his signature color to celebrate… something? I wasn’t entirely sure, but I was ready to roll with it. I even texted my friend, who’s a huge fan, like, “You’re not going to believe this, but Tokyo Tower is basically screaming Hirano Sho vibes right now!” She was equally hyped, and we spent a good 10 minutes theorizing about what the occasion could be. Maybe a new project? A birthday tribute? The possibilities felt endless. But then, as I was scrolling through Yahoo News later that evening, I saw the headline: “Tokyo Tower Lights Up Red for Chinese New Year.” Cue the record scratch. Wait, what? I felt a little silly for jumping to conclusions, but hey, it’s not every day you see Tokyo Tower bathed in such a bold, dramatic red. I decided to dig a little deeper. Turns out, it wasn’t just Tokyo Tower—other landmarks across Japan were also lit up in red to celebrate Chinese New Year. It was part of a larger initiative to honor the cultural significance of the holiday and promote goodwill between Japan and China. Honestly, I thought that was pretty cool. It’s always fascinating to see how cultures intertwine and influence each other, especially in a place as dynamic as Tokyo. But here’s the funny part: I ended up arriving at Tokyo Tower way too early that evening. Like, hours early. I was so excited to see the lights that I completely misjudged the timing. So, what did I do? I wandered around the area, snacking on way too many melon pan and taiyaki from nearby stalls. (Seriously, I think I ate enough sugar to power a small village.) By the time the tower lit up, I was practically buzzing from all the snacks and anticipation. Standing there, watching the tower glow against the night sky, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. There was the initial excitement, of course, but also a sense of connection—to the city, to the people around me, and to the broader world. It was a reminder of how small moments, like seeing a tower light up, can bring people together, even if we’re all there for different reasons. So, what do you think? Was it Hirano Sho’s color or Chinese New Year that stole the show that night? Or maybe it was a little bit of both? I’d love to hear your thoughts—or if you’ve ever had a similar “wait, I was totally wrong” moment while traveling. Drop a comment below and let’s chat!
