On Wednesday, January 22, LIVeNT 2025, Japan’s premier trade fair for the live entertainment and events industry, kicked off at the Makuhari Messe. Despite the change to new dates and venue, the exhibition halls were just as packed as ever with attendees excited to discover the newest innovations in event technology and solutions. LIVeNT is proving that business exhibitions don’t have to be all business! Visitors can be seen enjoying fresh-spun cotton candy, being immersed in a VR rollercoaster experience, or even interacting with a giant animatronic dinosaur. Leading Japan MICE news outlet POP Inc. was on the scene to learn more about the hottest trends.
Likely the most eye (and ear) catching booth at this year’s LIVeNT is that run by Highest Crew Inc. Highest Crew offers solutions for all aspects of organizing BtoB and BtoC events, while focusing on 3 overarching areas: “Event Management,” “Imaging Technology,” and “Participant Engagement.”
During the show, the company is showcasing its capacity for creating exciting live entertainment. Its booth consists of a massive 2-story DJ tower complete with a stage that stretches high above the surrounding exhibits. At regular intervals throughout the 3 days of the event, Highest Crew is using this stage to demonstrate DJ shows, dance group performances, and professional wrestling matches. The first wrestling exhibition match plus DJ combo has already proved to be a big hit amongst visitors, culminating in uproarious applause after the finale’s swan dive off of a ladder. Both music and cheers from the Highest Crew booth reverberate throughout the venue.
Highest Crew Inc. official homepage: https://highest-crew.co.jp/
For a more hands-on event experience, RENORY Co., Ltd. offers live animal educational events aimed at families with young children. These events feature a wide variety of animals such as rodents, reptiles, fish, and insects that are all able to be petted. The company has collaborated with theme parks, shopping, malls, and even hotels, and it boasts that organizing animal petting events are beneficial to these facilities by bringing in new customers, raising customers’ satisfaction levels, lengthening the time that customers spend in the establishment, and improving overall brand image.
LIVeNT attendees can experience the appeal for themselves firsthand, as a number of RENORY’s resident animals are available for petting at its booth. Sales Manager Nao Okuda notes that the large beetles are the most loved by children, and in particular the Hercules beetle is the star of the show.
RENORY Co., Ltd. official homepage: https://www.renory.jp/
IKUSA Inc. organizes events for large groups and corporate gatherings with an emphasis on fun! Offering over 100 types of in-person and online activities, IKUSA’s main objectives are promoting team-building, recreation, socializing, and disaster preparedness. The company also holds training sessions for businesses that teach useful skills such as logical thinking through the use of game-like programs.
At LIVeNT, IKUSA’s programming features a demonstration of the company’s “Warring States” activities, including its most popular “Chambara Battle.” Complete with attendee participation, players wield soft, flexible katanas to partake in “chambara,” a style of traditional Japanese sword fighting. After a spirited introduction by IKUSA “Fun Consultant” Yae, who was clad in historical armor, participants battled it out until only the last man was standing. After the dust had settled and both players and spectators were thoroughly entertained, Yae further explained that since Chambara Battle is easy to understand and accessible to all ages and genders, the company regularly holds battles at local festivals around Tokyo that anyone is welcome to join.
IKUSA Inc. official homepage: https://ikusa.jp/
In addition to services, event merchandise is also a hot topic at LIVeNT. Amongst exhibitors promoting multi-colored penlights, acrylic stands for polaroid pictures, and magnetic pouches for smartphones, CASTEM Co., Ltd. stands out with its revolutionary new product line.
Goods manufacturer CASTEM is exhibiting its “History Maker” line, which captures people’s likeness with 3D modelling. Through use of its Body Casting technology, the company creates life-size metal statues of hands and feet by using a mold of the actual limb, usually for professional athletes and celebrities. Deput Chief of Sales Kanae Maki elaborates that statues of boxers’ fists and soccer players’ feet have been exceptionally popular.
Furthermore, CASTEM produces lifelike reproductions of celebrities by 3D scanning them and then 3D printing plastic figurines. No painting is required as the figurines are 3D printed in full color, and since scanning each pose takes only a second to capture, built-to-order manufacturing is also possible.
CASTEM Co., Ltd.’s History Maker official homepage: https://www.history-maker.jp/en/
LIVeNT 2025 will continue to be held until Friday, January 24 at the Makuhari Messe. Live entertainment and event industry professionals can enter the exhibition free of charge.
