**Niigata City Revitalizes its Manga and Anime Hub with Innovative XR Technology **
Niigata City, known as a hub for manga and anime, has started to use the latest XR (Extended Reality) technology for revitalization efforts. The city aims to blend the real and virtual worlds to create a unique experience for visitors.
A large character can be seen through tablet devices in the city center. As explained by Hiroto Miyazaki, a policy director at the Niigata City Urban Policy Department, although it would be impossible for such large characters to exist in the real world, XR technology makes it seem as though they truly have appeared.
The city plans to leverage this technology to stimulate activity in the “Niigata 2km” area. Niigata City, which has produced many popular manga artists, such as Shinji Mizushima and Rumiko Takahashi, aims to use XR technology to promote the city as a hub for manga and anime. By scanning a QR code displayed in the Furumachi district, people can enjoy live performances of huge characters in the city and even take commemorative photos with them.
Although XR technology is used in other cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Niigata City is the only one where the administration is involved and actively promoting it. It appears to be an attractive initiative not only for the general public but also for future animators.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bee366c1417fe061015ef8581d3397084ed1cfaf
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bee366c1417fe061015ef8581d3397084ed1cfaf