Introducing initiatives implemented by exhibiting companies, such as initiatives linked to reality and VR utilization by local governments
HIKKY (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yasushi Funakoshi) has organized the Virtual Market 2022 Winter, the world's largest* VR event on the metaverse, for a total of 16 days from 3 to 18 December 2022.
Virtual Market (commonly known as Vket) was held for the ninth time, with approximately 70 corporates/IPs and 540 general circles exhibited. A total of 29 venues were produced, including three corporate exhibition venues (Para-Real Paris, Para-Real Nagoya, and Para-Real Sapporo), 20 general circle exhibition venues, and six corporate exhibition browser (Vket Cloud) venues, with a total of over one million visitors from around the world.
Twitter and other social networking sites also saw a great deal of activity, with many users posting about how they enjoyed shopping and experiencing the gimmicks and exhibiting booths at the venue with their friends.
*Virtual Market was recognised by Guinness World Records™ as 'Most booths at a virtual reality market event'.
The bustling scene at the venue
People enjoying taking pictures in front of the monument in the venue.
People enjoying the contraption that turns their avatar into a snow sculpture when they get on the platform at Para-Real Sapporo.
People enjoying the Metaverse Live at the YAMAHA booth.
Introduction of Exhibitor Initiatives
Some of the initiatives implemented by companies exhibiting at Virtual Market 2022 Winter are presented below.
◆Central Japan Railway and JR Tokai Agency
The Virtual Nagoya Station was a reproduction of JR Nagoya Station on metaverse. The station attracted attention with contents unique to the Metaverse, such as a virtual ride on the Linear Central Shinkansen (L0 Series improved test car) and the Tokaido Shinkansen (N700S). Other projects that linked the real Nagoya Station with the virtual Nagoya Station included the 'Metaverse Experience Event', where visitors could experience all the contents of the virtual Nagoya Station on the concourse of the actual Nagoya Station wearing VR equipment, and events where they could interact with popular VTubers in real-time through a monitor. The station was also used as a platform for the "Metaverse Experience". All the contents, both real and virtual, were attended by a large number of visitors every day, and the event was a great success.
Virtual Nagoya Station was also introduced on ABEMA Prime News.
<Comments from Central Japan Railway and JR Tokai Agency>
Central Japan Railway and JR Tokai Agency participated in the Metaverse event for the first time under the theme 'Creation of new experiences linking the real and virtual'. We prepared a variety of content and events, including collaborative projects with other companies, all of which were attended by many people and we believe we achieved great results. In the future, the JR Tokai Group will continue to take on the challenge of creating new value through real x virtual collaboration with various external partners, such as the NFT and railway events (details to be announced soon), which were announced in the Virtual Nagoya Station.
Linear Central Shinkansen (L0 series improved test car).
The actual 'Metaverse Experience' held at Nagoya Station.
A view of the event where you can interact with popular VTubers in real-time through a monitor.
◆ Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store
The 'Ambassadors working on metaverse' initiative, which was very popular last time, was implemented again this time. During the period, 15 ambassadors worked in shifts to serve customers on metaverse. Many people purchased products through communication with the ambassadors, leading to the acquisition of fans and increased sales.
In addition, for the first time this year, we handled not only food products, but also art and bedding. Those who were interested in the bedding exhibited virtually were able to see and purchase the actual products at the Daimaru Tokyo shop's Asumise*, and those who visited the shop as a result of the Vket were given a pillow mist as a present, which was very popular.
*Asumise: D2C brand showrooming space on the 4th floor of the Daimaru Tokyo shop, where customers can actually try on products they would normally only be able to buy on the internet.
<Comment from Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store>
This time, in addition to the food MD, which had been enjoyed on an ongoing basis, a new attempt was made to develop 'art' in a digital space and 'functional bedding' with an awareness of the in-store OMO. In the art category, we introduced two types of art objects and two types of graphics in a spatial construction unique to metaverse. The BRAIN SLEEP brand of functional bedding, which has been exhibited in the trial 'Asumise' at the Daimaru Tokyo shop, which practices showrooming as a 'shop that doesn't sell', was presented in a space in line with the product concept. The art appealed the pleasure of being able to easily see, touch and feel it, while the bedding was linked to the storefront to create a mechanism, realising an intersection between the metaverse and the real.
Once again, we were able to ask 15 ambassadors to serve visitors and have in-depth communication with them.
We believe that we were able to gain further insights through some of the trials and by providing entertainment through communication in the Metaverse.
(Naoki Tanaka, Gift Planning and Operation, Foods, MD Contents Development Department 2, Sales Division, Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store Co.)
Ambassadors and visitors pose for a group photograph in front of the Daimaru Matsuzakaya booth.
Exhibition at Daimaru Tokyo "Asumise".
Initiatives to receive a pillow mist if you visit the Asumise in the Daimaru Tokyo shop and tell them that you saw it on the Virtual Market.
◆BEAMS
The popular virtual customer service by BEAMS employees was carried out again this time. A virtual customer service center was set up in BEAMS HARAJUKU (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), which served as the model for the virtual shop, and approximately 40 employees took turns in providing virtual customer service. In addition, in order to provide an opportunity for customers to feel more familiar with Metaverse, a VR experience venue was set up in the shop, where a gaming lifestyle space finished with Herman Miller chairs and Logitech G gear was opened to customers as well. In addition to experiencing the BEAMS Virtual Shop, many visitors came to the event as a place where they could meet customers they had met in the virtual shop in real life.
＜Comment from BEAMS＞
During the Virtual Market 2022 Winter, which was the fifth time we participated, we saw an increase in the number of customers who visited our shops in real life as a result of their virtual contacts, and in the number of customers who purchased 3D costumes for their avatars and then purchased real products for their own use. Many users have also gathered at virtual shop events, and many customers have come to Harajuku to meet the staff who provide virtual customer service. The winners of the virtual modeling project showed off their fashionable outfits using BEAMS' 3D outfits, which were as good as real life. The connections with the social VR community fostered in the virtual market are helping BEAMS to grow as a select shop in the Metaverse.
(Kana Kinoshita, Public Relations Section, Corporate Communications Department, President's Office / Kana Kinoshita, VR Manager, Business Produce Department)
Metaverse customer service by BEAMS staff.
A virtual customer service base was set up in BEAMS HARAJUKU (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), and approximately 40 employees took turns providing virtual customer service.
A VR experience venue that also opens up the gaming lifestyle space to customers finished with Herman Miller chairs and Logitech G gear.
◆Marie Quandt Cosmetics
Marie Quandt Cosmetics, the cosmetics brand industry's first exhibition at the virtual market, created a glamorous booth with its brand icon Daisy shining brightly under the theme 'Enjoying cosmetics and fashion regardless of age or gender'. The shop was a great success, offering a photo booth, Ferris wheel-shaped product shelves lined with colorful cosmetic items, and content for visitors to enjoy make-up by age group, with more than 15,000 tweets posted by visitors during the period of the event. In addition, Metaverse customer service by brand staff and public interviews were also conducted. In addition, digital signage was used in real shops to promote the new initiatives at metaverse.
<Comment from Mary Quant Cosmetics>
After the exhibition, we received many inquiries for interviews, including from cosmetics-related publicity. We feel that the exhibition is not the end of the story, but a ripple effect is felt afterward. We have also received many tweets on social networking sites such as Twitter saying that they bought products in our shops after finding out about us at the virtual market, and we feel that we have a good response and potential in sending customers from VRM to real shops. In a survey conducted at the booth, we received many requests for avatar customer service next time. We think we can find a new style of customer service that makes use of the advantages of VR, such as the ability to ask questions and seek advice without feeling pressure to make a purchase while enjoying casual conversation with an avatar.
(Fujimori, Corporate Planning Office)
Public interviews held inside the Marie Quandt booth.
The day of Marie Quandt's WorldJack in Para-Real Paris.
Digital signage installed in real shops introducing the contents of Virtual Market implementation.
◆Yaizu City
As a local government, Yaizu City used Metaverse to promote the attractions of Yaizu City and its hometown tax payment system.
City staff actually entered the booth to introduce the hometown tax system and local products to visitors to the booth, and also held an event where Yaizu Goodwill Ambassadors Shiori Aoki (SKE48) and Ai Miura (Fishing Girl) tried their hand at VR customer service. The simulator in the booth, which showed the maximum tax payment amount, was used by a large number of visitors, and the event was a success in promoting Furusato to men in their 20s and 30s, who are not familiar with Furusato taxation.
<Comment from Yaizu City>
The booth was set up to promote "Yaizu, the City of Seafood" and was enjoyed by many visitors. In the VR reception, we talked about the hometown tax payment system, and received comments such as “I found out about Yaizu City for the first time and paid my hometown tax.", “The negitoro was delicious." etc. It was an opportunity to receive valuable feedback that encouraged producers and staff. The VR tuna dismantling show, VR fishing experience and 3D models of local products were also effective city promotions, with visitors spreading the photos on SNS.
People enjoying themselves at the Yaizu City booth.
Yaizu Goodwill Ambassador Shiori Aoki (SKE48) at the event.
The next Virtual Market will be held this summer. If you are interested in exhibiting at Virtual Market or holding a metaverse event, please feel free to contact us below.
Virtual Market 2022 Winter Overview
Name: Virtual Market 2022 Winter
Organizer: HIKKY
Dates: December 3rd (Sat) - 18th (Sun), 2022 (16 days in total)
Theme: NEXT Journey
Exhibit venues: Para-real Paris / Para-real Nagoya / Para-real Sapporo
Official Website: https://winter2022.vket.com/
Official SNS:
Instagram→https://www.instagram.com/vket_official/
How to visit:
During Virtual Market, you can visit the special world in VRChat from VR devices and gaming PCs. Browser-based venues that can be entered by simply clicking on the URL from smartphones or other devices will also be available. Some of the venues can also be accessed through Meta Quest.
About Virtual Market (also known as Vket)
The world's largest* VR event where you can buy and sell 3D items such as avatars and real products (clothes, PCs, food and drinks, etc.) at a venue in the Metaverse. It is the pioneering event of the Metaverse where people can buy and sell products, the event offers "experiences" unique to virtual space, such as riding rides, watching movies, and participating in live music performances at the venue. In addition, visitors can communicate with each other via voice, providing a realistic experience as if they were touring the city together in the real world.
The virtual market started as a place to buy and sell 3D data products between individuals. But in recent years, major companies that want to enter the metaverse business have expanded the sale of actual products, creating new possibilities for VR commerce.
*As the largest number of booths at virtual reality market events.
About VR firm HIKKY
-Create a world where the value of creativity is widely recognized-
HIKKY Co., Ltd. is a VR firm that creates an open metaverse where anyone can create and access freely. With notable creators who lead the industry as our members, HIKKY provides VR services such as highly unique Metaverse solutions including Vket Cloud, plan and operate Metaverse events, and provide consulting services that support business entry into the VR/AR field. HIKKY aims to develop the living, economic, and cultural spheres of the virtual world and create a society where all creative people can live more freely and abundantly.
The world’s largest VR event, Virtual Market, hosted by HIKKY has acquired a Guinness World Record™ in 2021. In addition, HIKKY won first place in the marketing category of the “AIXR International VR AWARDS” and the highest award in Japan’s “XR CREATIVE AWARD 2020.”
CEO: Yasushi Funakoshi
Headquarters: 4F, Mitomi Building, 1-20-22 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0013, Japan
Established: May 1, 2018
