[Leading Japanese MICE news outlet POP Inc. Event Report]
On Wednesday, November 13, Japan’s largest comprehensive media trade fair Inter BEE 2024 opened at the Makuhari Messe’s halls 2 through 8. Over a 3-day period, a total of 1,058 exhibitors will showcase the latest innovations in video production, broadcasting, entertainment, lighting, audio, and every type of media solution. On the floor, massive camera rigs loom above the booth walls and enclosed audio booths are filled floor to ceiling with variously sized speakers. Many of the exhibitors even offer hands-on experiences, allowing visitors to test cameras on sets with live models. Reporters from MICE news outlet POP Inc. spoke with exhibitors to discover the latest trends.
One field that is attracting a good deal of visitor attention at Inter BEE is the emerging technology of extended reality (XR). XR combines virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in order to create experiences in which the virtual world and the real world interact with each other.
Hashilus Co., Ltd., a producer of interactive devices, is offering visitors the chance to partake in its “GAZTUNT XR” demo, which consists of donning a headset and viewing several short experiences that demonstrate the possible applications of XR. These include a live show by a virtual idol, a guided tour of the Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa, and a showcase of popular Japanese cuisine. Furthermore, the true piece de resistance of the exhibit is decidedly the “Kickway” motion simulator. The Kickway comprises of a VR headset and a standing platform with handlebars, reminiscent of a segway, that shakes, rumbles, and blows wind at the user in order to further the realism of the experience. Operation and maintenance manager Takashi Iwamoto noted that people who normally become motion sick while using VR should be able to comfortably enjoy XR because it allows them to retain their grasp on the real world surrounding them.
Hashilus recommends that XR be used for exhibiting products that would normally be too large to showcase at an event. Amusement centers and museums can also rent Kickways for entertainment or education experiences.
Hashilus Co., Ltd.: https://hashilus.com/
Innovator One Co., Ltd. is promoting their original brand “Miramage,” the word being a portmanteau of the English “miracle” and “image” combined with the Japanese word for “future”. Innovator One develops a wide variety of devices capable of 4K resolution output, such as television screens, AI video cameras with facial recognition, and casting devices that stream 4K footage from a laptop to a screen in real time.
In addition, the highlight of Innovator One’s Inter BEE exhibit is the 3D Light Field Display, which shows impressive 3D images that are visible with the naked eye. The 3D screens range from an 11-inch tablet to a 98-inch flat screen television, and can be used in advertising, digital model creation, or even during live video calls with loved ones. The Light Field Display at Inter BEE surprised passing visitors with its vividness as they walked by, many stopping in their tracks as the 3D image came into view and proceeding to admire it from various angles.
Innovator Co., Ltd.: https://www.innovator-one.com/3d
In addition to product exhibits, Inter BEE 2024 also features a plethora of special events, the most notable of which being the Inter BEE Cinema. Each day during the event, the Cinema’s Studio Set Area showcases an actual recording of a scene on a film set in order to showcase cinematography techniques. The first live filming demonstration focused on recreating natural lighting artificially, with emcees explaining each technique in detail. Switching from daytime to evening within one take, mixing multiple colors of light to mimic a sunset, and utilizing a fog machine to manipulate light, the trade secrets of film professionals were on full display.
Inter BEE 2024 will be held until Friday, November 15 at the Makuhari Messe. Entry is free of charge for media industry professionals with online pre-registration required.
