First Wave of Corporate Exhibitors Announced for "Virtual Market 2024 Winter," the World's Largest Metaverse Event with 1.3 Million Global Visitors!

HIKKY Co., Ltd. (HIKKY) will hold Virtual Market 2024 Winter (commonly called Vket) from Saturday, December 7, to Sunday, December 22, 2024. This marks the 13th edition of the event, which has earned four Guinness World Records™ and attracted over 1.3 million visitors in total, making it one of the world’s largest Metaverse events. The first lineup of corporate exhibitors for this year’s event has now been announced.

It is the world’s largest Metaverse event*, where you can buy and sell a variety of items in a virtual space. These include 3D items like avatars, as well as real-world products such as clothing, PCs, and food. In addition to buying and selling products, the event offers unique Metaverse experiences, such as riding vehicles within the venue, interacting with Vket staffs, and attending live music performances. Originally launched as a platform for creators to trade 3D data products between individuals, Virtual Market has grown in recent years to attract participation from a wide range of companies. It is now widely used as a new PR and marketing space, leveraging immersive Metaverse experiences to boost brand appeal and build fan communities. *Recognized by Guinness World Records™ for having the most booths in a virtual reality market event.

The 13th edition of Vket, Virtual Market 2024 Winter, is built around the 2024 annual theme, "Boundless!" This event aims to showcase the excitement and freedom of the Metaverse while expanding its possibilities in various ways. This year's corporate exhibition will take place across three unique VR venues: Las Vegas, Odaiba, and Mt. Fuji. 

Parareal Las Vegas venue has undergone a major overhaul from its previous appearance in Vket2023 Summer! New areas and landmarks, such as the Fremont Street Experience and the Sphere, have been added to enhance the experience.
 
Parareal Odaiba venue expands to include not only Odaiba's famous landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty at Marine Park and various commercial facilities, but also the Ariake area, home to Tokyo Big Sight. With a theme of "Cyber World," visitors can enjoy a story-driven, immersive experience.

Parareal Fujiyama venue is the first Parareal space not based on a specific city but instead designed around a symbolic theme: Mount Fuji. Incorporating elements grounded in reality, this venue aims to expand the concept of "Parareal" with a fresh approach. Visitors can explore Mount Fuji, a symbol of Japan, along with four islands that represent Japan's unique four seasons, offering a brand-new concept for the event.

Each company will offer immersive content unique to the Metaverse, providing users with enjoyable experiences while promoting their items and enhancing brand appeal. A variety of booths will be set up as part of this innovative PR and marketing opportunity.

"Parareal" is a coined term that combines "Parallel World" and "Real," describing something that exists in parallel between the real world and the Metaverse.

Suntory Co., Ltd. is back at Vket with an exciting new exhibit! This time, they’re creating an immersive experience full of festive vibes that will make you crave Suntory's non-alcoholic beverages for the perfect Christmas scene. Enjoy your year-end and New Year events with Suntory's refreshing non-alcoholic drinks!
*Booth entry and participation in campaigns are limited to visitors aged 20 and over.

At Canon Inc.’s booth, visitors can enjoy stunning 3D VR videos created using the EOS VR SYSTEM, a state-of-the-art VR video shooting system that delivers high-quality visuals and efficient workflows. Step into Canon’s booth to enjoy highly immersive 3D and VR videos captured with their latest VR lenses: the RF-S3.9mm F3.5 STM DUAL FISHEYE and the RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL, released this year. These cutting-edge lenses bring your visuals to life, making you feel as if the subjects are right before your eyes!

This time, Canon is showcasing VR videos created in collaboration with well-known creators, including Gen, who runs the popular cooking channel “Gen’s Suijiba (Kitchen),” with over 1.3 million subscribers, Yuuki from Animal House, an animal YouTuber living with over 190 rescue animals, and Mai Hinomoto, a travel VTuber and Vket ambassador. Canon's popular Wall Art Gimmick returns, letting you become part of the artwork for a unique photo experience!

Kao Group Customer Marketing Co., Ltd., (President :  Yoshio Nakao,) is back with a large booth, continuing to showcase products from Kao and its group companies!

The popular defense game featuring items inspired by Kao products has been upgraded! Additionally, new collaboration corners with the discount store Don Quijote and the home improvement store CAINZ will be featured.

KEEN Japan GK, the company behind the outdoor footwear brand KEEN, originating from Portland, USA, is making its first-ever booth appearance! Defining "any place without a ceiling" as the outdoors, KEEN is committed to sustainable practices with its CONSCIOUSLY CREATED philosophy, crafting products that are kind to both people and the planet.

KEEN is showcasing its first full booth at Vket, located in the Parareal Mt. Fuji. The booth features a treehouse-inspired design, where visitors can experience creating their own KEEN shoes in a variety of colors, all while embracing the brand's commitment to environmentally-friendly practices.

After designing your shoes, a photo panel will be available for a memorable photo! A 3D model of KEEN shoes will also be on display, and if you find something you like, you can easily purchase it through the KEEN official online store. Enjoy the immersive KEEN experience in the Metaverse!

Yamagata Prefecture is the first Prefecture in Japan to participate in a Virtual Market! The prefecture will showcase foods made from locally grown agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. The goal is to promote these products and expand sales opportunities. "Yamagata Delicious Foods Metaverse Exhibition" will be held in a web-based  Metaverse, Vket Cloud venue that can be accessed from smartphones, as well as at a booth at Pararial Odaiba. This exhibition aims to introduce the charm of Yamagata’s food to a broader audience.

At the booth, posters from 14 companies will be displayed, highlighting foods made from Yamagata’s natural products. Some of these products will also be available for purchase on the spot. Take this opportunity to explore and enjoy the delicious local foods from Yamagata!

Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture will participate in its second virtual market! A booth promoting the city's industries, including tourism and agriculture, will be set up at Parareal Odaiba. Inside the booth, a tourism map of Toyota City will be available, and by selecting specific locations, visitors can view descriptions and images of the area's tourist spots. A large monitor at the front will display exciting videos to give visitors a taste of the city's sightseeing experience.

A BBQ space will be set up in the center of the booth, allowing visitors to cook and enjoy Toyota City's local specialties like game meat, eggplant, and shiitake mushrooms in a relaxing setting.

Visitors can buy Toyota City's local specialties for the BBQ through a dedicated page linked from the booth's posters or via hometown tax donations. A campaign will also be held where visitors can post photos with the hashtag #Vket豊田市 (Toyota City) at their booth on X for a chance to win Toyota City’s local specialties in a raffle.

To increase your chances in the raffle, you can also post the registration page for いこまいるとよた (let’s visit Toyota) along with a screenshot of following the official Instagram of とよた農産物ブランドくん (Toyota Ag. Brand-kun).  Be sure to join!

Shizuoka Prefecture's Yaizu City, which signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with HIKKY this year, will participate in its 6th consecutive exhibition! This time, popular local products like negitoro (tuna with green onions) and raw shirasu (whitebait), which are also popular through hometown tax donations, will be displayed as 3D models to highlight the richness of Yaizu’s food.
Additionally, a giant aquarium will be set up in the center of the booth, where visitors can enjoy the game "Big Catch! Yaizu Fishing," catching tuna and bonito, which are brought in from Yaizu Port.

Mazda Corporation will make its debut at the Virtual Market. With its purpose of, “Enriching lives through forward-looking initiatives," Mazda feels a strong affinity with the Metaverse culture, where individuals can express their desired selves. The company aims to expand brand recognition, engage with customers, and attract new fans through its Vket exhibition.

At Parareal Las Vegas, a booth will be set up where visitors can customize Mazda's iconic lightweight sports car, the Roadster  to their liking and take photos with their preferred background and special effects. 

In addition to customizing the car's color, visitors can also apply their avatar's decal to the vehicle. This allows them to create a one-of-a-kind Roadster and capture memorable photos and videos with it, something that can only be done at this booth.

Robot Consulting Co., Ltd., which aims to achieve the "democratization of law" through the combination of legal professionals and AI, will participate in the Virtual Market for the fifth time!

At a booth inspired by a courthouse, set up in Parareal Las Vegas, Robot Consulting will feature a 3D avatar of its AI service Robot Lawyer. Visitors will be able to engage in voice conversations powered by AI, discussing everyday issues and legal matters in digital spaces where legal frameworks are still underdeveloped.

Additionally, upon entering the booth, visitors will experience the Guilty or Innocent Game, where the Vket official character Vket-Nyan will deliver a verdict on the "hidden crime" of each visitor. Visitors can enjoy special effects and performances tailored to the verdict.

Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd. will make its debut at the Virtual Market! In collaboration with HIKKY, Asahi Soft Drinks is advancing its challenge in the Metaverse to foster and expand a new fan community. At Parareal Las Vegas, they will set up a booth designed like a café meeting room to offer an experience of product development meetings and expand brand recognition in the VR space.

Inside the booth, 3D models of Asahi Soft Drinks products, such as Calpis and Wilkinson, developed with the help of enthusiastic VR users in previous product development meetings, will be displayed with original gimmicks. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience new ways to enjoy beverages in the Metaverse space.

Visitors will be invited to think about their desired flavor of "Calpis" ("I want __  flavor of Calpis!") and participate in a photo contest. By taking a picture with the 3D beverage model and posting it on social media with a designated hashtag, visitors can share their creative ideas. Those with the best ideas will be awarded, and a ceremony will be held at a later date. Be sure to join and participate!
*Calpis is a registered trademark of Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd. 

In addition, many other companies have confirmed their participation! Details about the other company booths will be announced gradually. Please look forward to the event starting on December 7th!

Suntory Co., Ltd / Canon Inc. / Kao Group Customer Marketing Inc. / Keen Japan GK / Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co., Ltd. / Universal Entertainment Corporation / Sammy Corporation / Shizuoka Keirin Track / Yamagata Prefecture / Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture / Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture / Mazda Corporation / Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. / Robot Consulting Co., Ltd. / Tokyo Marui Co., Ltd. / Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd. / Misuzu Corporation / Maneki Foods Co., Ltd. / Sapporo Station General Development Co., Ltd. / Bell Co., Ltd. / Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. / BeBlock Inc. / Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) / SO.ON project LaV Tokyo School of Music & Dance, High School Course / Melta Co., Ltd. / diVRse Co., Ltd. / UUUM Co., Ltd. / RKB Mainichi Broadcasting Corporation / Yurikamome, Inc. / Decks Tokyo Beach / Aqua City Odaiba / Vtuber Expo / OffKai Expo / VRChat / Kit LLC / Nudge Co., Ltd.

Event Name: Virtual Market 2024 Winter
Organizer: VR Corporation HIKKY
Dates: Metaverse Venue: December 7th (Sat) to December 22nd (Sun), 2024 (16 days) VketReal Venue: December 21st (Sat) and 22nd (Sun), 2024 (2 days)Theme: Boundless!

Exhibiting Venues: Pararial Las Vegas / Pararial Mt. Fuji / Pararial Odaiba
VketReal Venue: Ikebukuro Sunshine City Cultural Hall Building 2F, Exhibition Hall D

Official Social Media: 
X: https://twitter.com/
EnVket YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/vketchannel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vket_official/ 
Official Website: https://event.vket.com/en
How to Join: https://event.vket.com/en/access

You can join the Vket worlds within VRChat using VR equipment or a gaming PC. There will be browser-based venues available, where you can simply click on a URL to enter from a smartphone or other devices.
Additionally, some venues will be accessible directly from Meta Quest without the need for a PC. 

VketReal Official Website : https://event.vket.com/en/2024Winter/real