KDDI CORPORATION, Tokyu Corporation, Mizuho Research & Research Institute, and Future Design Shibuya Co., Ltd. aim to formulate guidelines for everyone to utilize the city-linked metaverse (hereinafter referred to as virtual city) with peace of mind. In, the "Virtual City Consortium" was launched on November 9, 2021.
This consortium will openly discuss and conduct research, formulate guidelines, and disseminate information for utilization in the platform concept "Virtual City" that KDDI plans to develop in the spring of 2022.
Recently, people are paying attention to life and business in the virtual space on the Internet called "Metaverse". In "Virtual City", a new town development where the real city and the virtual space are linked and develop together. I am aiming for. On the other hand, in order to develop a "virtual city," it is necessary to create a mechanism for solving problems, such as organizing rights among stakeholders and formulating compliance guidelines, from the perspectives of both virtual space and real cities.
The four companies are changing their behavioral patterns such as consumption and movement with the evolution of technology, and in order to actively promote community development that adapts to the needs of society, the four companies are related local governments and ministries such as Shibuya Ward and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Through activities in this consortium, we aim to develop the Metaverse from Japan and further increase the value of existing cities.
Overview of the consortium
Based on various knowledge based on the operation of the distribution platform "Virtual Shibuya" officially approved by Shibuya Ward, it will be open for the development of the Metaverse from Japan, such as the development of similar models in other cities and the development of new businesses and technologies in the future. It is an organization whose purpose is to conduct discussions and research, formulate guidelines, and disseminate information.
Virtual City Consortium
Established November 9, 2021
Participating companies KDDI Corporation, Future Design Shibuya Co., Ltd., Tokyu Corporation, Mizuho Research & Research Institute Co., Ltd. (as of November 9, 2021 in alphabetical order)
URL https://shibuya5g.org/research
Inquiries Please contact us using the form on the website.
Participating experts
President of Digital Hollywood University
Tomoyuki Sugiyama (Doctor of Engineering)
Professor, Research Director, Global Communication Center, International University
Tomoaki Watanabe (Ph.D., Mass Communication)
SAKURA Law Office Lawyer
Kenshiro Michishita
KDDI CORPORATION / Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance Specially Appointed Lecturer
Daiko Kawamoto (Master's Policy / Media)
observer
Content Industry Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Shibuya Ward
Main services of each company
KDDI
By making full use of 5G and advanced technology, we will share the knowledge about the development and technology and services of Virtual City, which is the au version of Metaverse.
Looking ahead to linking with Tokyu virtual space, we will share knowledge of community development activities and business in real cities.
Mizuho Research & Research Institute Consortium
Support management and guideline creation.
Future Design Shibuya Promote cooperation between the government and private companies.
Formulation plan (planned)
Timing Main issues
November 2021 ・ Concept of efforts to meet expectations for “Virtual City”
・ Study of the efforts of "Virtual Shibuya" so far
・ Arrangement of stakeholders, laws, regulations, rights, etc. in "Virtual Shibuya"
・ Arrangement of stakeholders, laws, regulations, rights, etc. in real cities
December 2021 ・ Advantages and disadvantages of cooperation between "Virtual City" and real cities
Example) Landscape, event, EC, etc.
・ Compliance on "Virtual City"
January 2022 ・ Compliance on "Virtual City" (continued)
・ Arrangement of points to keep in mind when developing in other cities
・ Outline of guidelines
March 2022 ・ Draft guidelines
About virtual Shibuya
"Virtual Shibuya" is the first virtual project in Japan approved by the local government, which was launched in May 2020 by the "Shibuya 5G Entertainment Project" composed of 73 companies centered on KDDI, Future Design Shibuya, and Shibuya City Tourism Association. It is a distribution platform officially recognized by Shibuya Ward.
It is not something that the Metaverse operator plans and operates as a single company, but multiple stakeholders related to Shibuya work closely together to discuss how the actual city and the Metaverse should coexist in each region. The biggest feature is that it is a virtual space linked with. Issues gained through operational experience are used as knowledge for the development of "Virtual City".
