Mawari, Nankai, and Meta Osaka Collaborate to Create ‘Digital Entertainment City Namba’ with AI-Powered 3D Avatars

Since the beginning, Mawari has been working toward a digitalized future, successfully executing over 50 XR projects worldwide, and integrating digital content into real-life surroundings. Now, collaborating with Nankai, one of Japan’s oldest private railway operators, we’re once again pushing the boundaries of XR, proving that the future is already here.  

What connects both Mawari and Nankai is the vision: We imagine a future that’s not confined to physical and digital worlds separated, instead believing in a world where the two coexist naturally, elevating the quality of daily life. The Digital Entertainment City Namba is a step toward making this vision a reality, transforming the way we work, travel, socialize, and connect.

The project, focused in Osaka’s Namba area, creates a shared space for humans and digital avatars, with AI Assistants supporting both locals and tourists as tour guides, assistants, and service providers, turning it into a cohesive, urban ecosystem. 

The Technologies Powering ‘Digital Entertainment City Namba’

To achieve this groundbreaking integration, Mawari and its partners are leveraging three cutting-edge technologies:

• AI-Powered Digital Avatars – Moving beyond conventional AI assistants, these lifelike AI-driven characters will be capable of human-like interactions, making them an active part of daily life.

• Extended Reality (XR) – By overlaying digital content onto real-world locations such as Namba Parks, e-Stadium, and Tsutenkaku, XR will blend virtual idols and anime characters into the urban landscape, creating immersive experiences.

• Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) – By deploying edge computing and rendering devices across Nankai’s station network, real-time 3D content will be delivered with minimal latency, enabling smooth and high-quality digital interactions at scale.

With Mawari’s revolutionary DePIN Network Infrastructure, AI Agents are no longer tied to an impersonal existence. We’re giving them a body, personality, and an opportunity to become an integral part of our daily lives, oftentimes making it easier to navigate. Whether it’s customer service, personal assistants, or a travel guide, those digital humans can guarantee better, more efficient experiences, revolutionizing how we interact with technology and our surroundings.  

A Landmark Innovation for Urban Development and Tourism

The Digital Entertainment City Namba initiative marks a significant step in digital urban transformation, demonstrating a clear path toward mass adoption of AI-driven experiences. By merging AI, XR, and DePIN, the collaboration between Mawari, Nankai Electric Railway, Meta Osaka, and e-Stadium is not only reshaping city infrastructure but also creating new job opportunities and expanding the scope of decentralized digital experiences.

Uniting AI, XR, and DePIN in ‘Digital Entertainment City Namba’ is a landmark moment for the entire industry, demonstrating a clear path to mass adoption with tangible social impact. Our collaboration with Nankai Electric Railway, Meta Osaka, and e-stadium transforms urban spaces, creates new work opportunities, and brings decentralized infrastructure into everyday life for diverse communities.

— Luis Oscar Ramirez, CEO of Mawari

As part of this initiative, Nankai continues to enhance the Namba area’s appeal by integrating entertainment-driven elements, further positioning it as a global hub for innovative experiences. In August 2024, the e-Stadium Namba Main Branch, an esports facility at Namba Parks, was launched to support this vision. Additionally, the expansion of development into the Namba-Shinsekai area, including the landmark Tsutenkaku Tower, acquired in December 2024, will further shape the district into a futuristic entertainment city.

As part of this, we opened the e-Stadium Namba Main Branch, an e-sports facility, in August 2024 at Namba Parks, a commercial facility operated by Nankai Electric Railway, and have collaborated with MetaOsaka. We have now launched the "Digital Entertainment City Namba" project, and will continue to develop the Namba-Shinsekai area, including Tsutenkaku, which became part of our group in December 2024, to create a ‘future city’ with entertainment at its core that will keep visitors entertained.

— Nobuyuki Okajima, President and COO of Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

Bridging AI and Society with Real-World Impact

This collaboration goes beyond entertainment—it represents a fundamental shift in how AI is integrated into everyday life. These AI-powered avatars will not only enhance Japan’s tourism sector but also help address workforce shortages by creating remote job opportunities in customer service, hospitality, and tourism. Managed through real-time 3D interfaces, these roles will introduce a new era of AI-assisted, decentralized employment, making work more accessible and inclusive.

With the launch of Digital Entertainment City Namba, Mawari, Nankai, and Meta Osaka are setting a precedent for the future of smart cities. As technology continues to evolve, this initiative stands as a bold testament to how AI, XR, and DePIN can transform urban landscapes, making them more immersive, efficient, and engaging for everyone.

Media Coverage

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