What is the future of blended reality that KDDI is orchestrating? | KDDI
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What is the future of blended reality that KDDI is orchestrating?
Announced in May 2020 during the pandemic, "Virtual Shibuya," a city-linked metaverse, garnered significant attention. Two years later, KDDI launched "Digital Twin Shibuya," where real and virtual spaces are interconnected. Leveraging 5G communication and AR/MR technologies, they've been working to expand urban experiences, leading them to define the metaverse as not "another world," but "one more world." What kind of world is this? "αU spring week 2023," held from March 8th to 12th, 2023, offered a wonderful opportunity to experience this "one more world" where reality and virtuality blend, as envisioned by KDDI.
On March 7th, KDDI launched "αU," a new metaverse and Web3 service platform. Based on the metaverse platform "αU metaverse," it includes a rich lineup of services such as "αU live" (scheduled for official service launch in Summer 2023), where users can enjoy music live performances in 360-degree, free-viewpoint, "αU market," a marketplace for purchasing NFTs (digital art), "αU wallet" for managing purchased NFTs and crypto assets, and "αU place" (scheduled for official service launch in Summer 2023) that links physical and virtual stores.
Furthermore, the NFT store "αU dotadp" from the au Design project, which has produced numerous masterpieces such as the INFOBAR (designed by Naoto Fukasawa), a permanent collection at MoMA, and mobile phones in collaboration with avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama, has also newly opened, with services expanding daily.
At the announcement of "αU," KDDI President Takahashi stated, "When digital twins are deployed in consumer business, it will become a world where people move freely between the real and virtual." The event "αU spring week 2023," held from March 8th to 12th, allowed attendees to truly feel the meaning of this statement. It was a cultural event that merged "Virtual Shibuya" offered on "αU metaverse" with "real Shibuya," targeting Gen Z, who already navigate freely between the real and virtual.
For "real Shibuya," the venue was Hz-Shibuya, an event space in Udagawa-cho. The space, named "αU apartment" with the concept of an apartment gathering creators of the new era, showcased the personal rooms of next-generation artists. Live performances by these artists were also held on stage.
In the virtual space, popular artists performed music live as avatars, and various other content was presented. Here, we will introduce some of them.
Next-Generation Artists Gather for a Real Event @ Hz-Shibuya
Wednesday, March 8th: Toua "Toua's 'Who Am I?' Story"
Toua, who boasts immense popularity among teens with her unique personality, held a talk show sharing her candid thoughts at 20, within a space linked to her first photobook, "Who Am I?" A photo contest for attendees was also held. Furthermore, a "My Room" exhibit allowed visitors to experience the photobook's world in both the real venue and the metaverse. During the talk, she entered the "αU metaverse" space for a tour, introducing her work.
Thursday, March 9th: Rinne Yoshida "RINNEEE Presents BOOOOO!!! × World"
Rinne Yoshida, a female artist known for her songs blending singing and rap, and her captivating dance performances, generated buzz with her cute worldview. On this day, she appeared performing rap and officially announced her artist name change to "RINNEEE." Mono Koyama and Itsuka, who produced her new song "Monku BOO," made surprise guest appearances, livening up the venue.
Friday, March 10th: Roi "Roi Presents Spring Roi Festival"
Roi, who is very active on television as "Japan's Loudest Model," also made an appearance. This was his first real live performance, and with the recent release of his new song "Warabimochi," the event was high-energy throughout. He also engaged with fans through activities like giving out candy apples and drinks to attendees and taking photos together at a photo booth.
Saturday, March 11th: Miyu "Miyu Presents Step into the Metaverse"
Miyu, a world-renowned dancer who performed the "foot dance" in the music video for "Edison" by Wednesday Campanella, also appeared. A special exhibit, "Edison's Room," allowed visitors to recreate the MV's filming, which Miyu herself found surprisingly accurate, exclaiming, "The reproduction is incredibly high, I was surprised!" A "foot dance" workshop was also held, making it an engaging participatory event for attendees.
Sunday, March 12th: bala "bala Presents balallel-party"
Closing the event was bala, a collective of girl artists and creators who recently released their first single "barla." They performed not only in their personal rooms at the real venue but also virtually. Their visually striking stage presence and performances, leveraging their individuality, truly embodied next-generation artists. It was a time that confirmed their future success in various fields.
Experiencing the Connection Between Real and Virtual: MY ROOM @ Hz-Shibuya
At Hz-Shibuya, a special exhibition "MY ROOM" featuring five artists—BE:FIRST, KAF, Wednesday Campanella, Toua, and bala—was set up.
BE:FIRST "Boom Boom Back Touch & Try"
A room where attendees could experience the αU Live content for the new song "Boom Boom Back." Fans were thrilled by the performance, exclusively viewable here, where BE:FIRST members took over the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. The interactive touch panel also drew attention, allowing for dynamic viewing of the live performance from various angles.
KAF
The KAF Observatory, tracing the journey of KAF, a virtual singer with a unique voice. As a preview of "αU LIVE," attendees could experience "Ito" from her 2nd solo live performance "Fukakai Ni Q1" in 360-degree, free-viewpoint.
Wednesday Campanella "Edison's Room"
A special exhibition space recreating the "foot dance" scene from the hit song "Edison." By simply sitting on a chair in the room, visitors could film themselves doing the foot dance, a unique feature many experienced.
Toua "Who Am I?"
A perfect recreation of the cover of Toua's first photobook, "Who Am I?" A life-sized cutout of Toua was placed in the center of the room for visitors to take photos with.
Photobook "Who Am I?"
https://amzn.asia/d/6A8Z5Id
bala "balallel-world"
In line with bala's identity as a collective of girl artists and creators, a room was set up connecting the individual worlds of each member. Visitors could not only experience their music through "αU live" but also engage with gimmicks that allowed them to embody the new generation of gyaru through remakes and DIY.
Excitement with Avatars & Virtual-Exclusive Productions! αU metaverse Virtual Event
Friday, March 10th: Leona Shishigami virtual reality mini live & Meet & Greet
A music live performance by popular VTuber Leona Shishigami. The stage, composed entirely of original songs, featured lighting and lasers perfectly synchronized with the music. Fans in attendance enthusiastically supported the performance with their light sticks. After the live show, a meet & greet allowed fans to chat with Leona Shishigami in the same virtual space and take commemorative photos.
Saturday, March 11th: bala "balallel-meta-Party"
The day before their real venue performance, bala also held a live show in the virtual space. KANO, a crew member, designed cute characters called "BI" who performed as avatars, linking their movements to the members' actions. Fans enjoyed the event by dancing along to their debut song "barla" and waving their light sticks.
Sunday, March 12th: Wednesday Campanella virtual reality mini live & Meet & Greet
Utaha, as an avatar, performed popular songs such as "Tinkerbell," "Edison," and "Buckingham." The virtual space offered unique productions, with lyrics floating in the air and storybook-like sets appearing on stage, much to the delight of the fans. During the meet & greet, fans shared their favorite songs, with Utaha also enjoying the interaction as an avatar.
Exhibition @ Hz-Shibuya
αU atelier
Original artworks by three illustrators popular with Gen Z—Mayu Yukishita, Honoka Yoshifuku, and Giselle Aika Bauer—were exhibited in a physical space. The theme, "One More World," embodying the concept of αU, depicted daily life where reality and virtuality merge, expressed through unique illustrations. All artworks were available for purchase as NFTs, and exclusive merchandise was also sold.
Exhibition @ TRUNK
Mayu Yukishita αU presents MAYU YUKISHITA EXHIBITION "One More World."
Three pieces newly created by Mayu Yukishita, an artist leading Gen Z, as the concept visuals for αU, were exhibited at TRUNK, a physical venue. Here, the concept of αU, "One More World," was expressed through the lives of young people living in a daily reality where the virtual and real merge.
Experience the World of αU Place!
During the event, the apparel store "Lui's/EX/store" on the 5th floor of Shibuya Parco was recreated in a virtual space. Visitors could enter as avatars from "αU metaverse" and receive customer service from store staff, offering a chance to experience the world of "αU place," set to launch in earnest in Summer 2023.
New Metaverse Services Launching One After Another!
"αU Wallet"
The "αU" app, "αU Wallet," is more than just a wallet app. It's a crypto asset wallet developed in Japan that allows for easy and secure participation in the world of "Web3," a term heard frequently these days, encompassing blockchain and NFTs.
This wallet, launched by KDDI ahead of other major telecommunications carriers, allows users to purchase NFTs with Japanese Yen, a fiat currency. Purchased NFTs are automatically managed on the Polygon blockchain, and MATIC (the name for crypto assets circulating on the Polygon blockchain) can be sent and received. Furthermore, plans are in place to support multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, in the first half of this year.
In recent years, many domestic companies have entered the "Web3" space. However, due to the high volatility inherent in this emerging industry, many have limited their participation to private chains, which are closed systems (i.e., manageable within the company), or have only provided partial technical support. KDDI's launch, with its premise of connecting to open chains like Polygon, demonstrates a commitment befitting a telecommunications infrastructure provider that has always connected people without barriers, and a deep understanding of Web3 as a driving force for the new era.
Additionally, the company's wallet includes backup and filtering functions, addressing user concerns about potential hacking of crypto assets. This ensures a user experience that is accessible not only to the tech-savvy but also to beginners. https://web.wallet.alpha-u.io/static/guide/beginner.html
Furthermore, "αU Market" offers a marketplace where users can purchase NFTs with real-world benefits. By connecting to the aforementioned "αU Wallet," users can easily buy the NFTs they desire. "αU Market" operates under the banner of "Creator First," aiming to benefit creators, artists, and their fans by offering a wide selection of NFT products.
At the service launch on March 7th, a collaboration with "Tokyo Creative Salon 2023," one of Japan's largest fashion and design festivals, offered limited-time Designer's NFTs (available until the end of March 2023). Purchasers of eligible NFTs received benefits such as invitations to fashion shows, with the NFT serving as proof of purchase, and T-shirts printed with the designer's NFT artwork.
The participating designers included emerging talents gaining attention both domestically and internationally, such as "AKIKOAOKI," "HEAVEN TANUDIREDJA ANTWERP," "KEISUKEYOSHIDA," "MURRAL," "THREETREASURES," and "YOHEI OHNO." Additionally, five promising young brands from "me," a fashion school operated by designer Mikio Sakabe, such as "yasukawa," "Water Blue," "SHO MURATA," "KADDET," and "IZUMO," provided NFT works. This demonstrated "αU Market's" commitment to its "Creator First" philosophy and its dedication to benefiting fans.
In addition, NFTs created in collaboration with Shibuya area restaurants and "soudan NFT," a leading domestic NFT project, were sold. Holders of these NFTs can receive discounts at participating establishments equivalent to the NFT purchase price. As the term "NFT" becomes more widely known, familiar benefits like "restaurant discounts" offer a reassuring and attractive entry point for beginners. These are highly recommended as a first NFT purchase. https://market.alpha-u.io/
