Metaverse Expo Japan to have exhibition space “recreating the metaverse in reality”

On July 27th and 28th, 2022, Metaverse Expo Japan 2022 (organized primarily by Meta Corporation) will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo for members of the media and other related parties. The content of the expo will also be presented at CEATEC 2022 later this year.

In the past few years, numerous Japanese companies have made inroads into the metaverse, involving themselves in everything from virtual platforms, VR/AR devices, 5G networks, NFT and crypto assets, all of which have helped make the metaverse a more familiar concept and, for some early adpoters, even changed the way people live.

At Metaverse Expo Japan 2022, various companies, organizations, and government agencies driving metaverse-related business will take the stage to present and discuss topics related to the metaverse and present their visions for its future. According to the press release, the expo "hopes to contribute to (...) building the metaverse through 'co-creation' rather than 'competition.'"

The list of participating companies and organizations includes Namco Bandai Entertainment Inc., Bascule Inc., CyberAgent, Coincheck, HIKKY, IMAGICA EEX, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Kadokawa Educational Corporation Dwango Gakuen, Mediadoo Corporation, Microsoft Japan Corporation, NPO Virtual Rights, Pixiv Inc., SHIBUYA109 Entertainment Corporation, TV TOKYO Corporation, Thirdverse Corporation, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, and W TOKYO Inc.

The metaverse in reality

One thing bringing some attention to the expo on social media before it even begins is the planned "Exhibition Program."

Image only. Actual appearance may change.

Billed "a place to experience the 'now' of the Metaverse," the exhibition program will be held within a realistic reproduction of the metaverse inside the Grand Hyatt. Within this space, visitors will be able to have hands-on experiences of the metaverse according to the concepts of the participating companies.

Although there have been many attempts to hold conferences entirely virtually, the technical difficulty of using VR equipment, unfamiliarity with the metaverse, bias towards VR as "a toy" or something meant "only for gaming" and many other factors have often limited attendance. Although it remains to be seen what the space will actually look like (the photo above is provided in the press release with the caveat that it's only meant to give you an idea of what it will/may be like), for visitors to be able to seamlessly 'stroll right into the metaverse' without donning any equipment might be a helpful visual tool that could make the metaverse easier to understand for those with no experience.

Of course, there will be hands-on VR experiences at the booths themselves, so it won't simply be a 'metaverse theme park.'

Nevertheless, the reactions on Twitter have been mixed. Here are some of them:

At Metaverse Expo Japan 2022 (...) a (life-sized) diorama that recreates the Metaverse in physical reality will be built and exhibited. We can expect witty comments on that..."
"Wait, that's how they're doing it 'in the metaverse'?"
"I actually think this is a great idea for business representatives. We can look forward to some very practical business applications of the metaverse..."
"It's wonderful that they're doing it in the 'real world.'"

Metaverse Expo Japan 2022 Official Website (Japanese only)

By - grape Japan editorial staff.