EY Japan completes construction on metaverse counterpart of Torikai Hachimangu Shrine to support new activities

日本語

EY Japan (headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo; Chairperson & CEO: Moriaki Kida) announces that it has completed the construction of a metaverse counterpart of Torikai Hachimangu Shrine (location: Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City).

Torikai Hachimangu Shrine, boasting a history stretching back nearly 1,800 years, is　located in the vibrant city of Fukuoka, Kyushu. Over that time, it has not only functioned as a place of worship but also as a forum for the local community to meet and interact. While the shrine has long been loved by the community, it was also exploring how to modernize itself. It decided to work with EY Japan and embark on an adventure to build a metaverse shrine. 

The metaverse counterpart of Torikai Hachimangu Shrine recreates the shrine’s worship hall and surrounding precincts in the metaverse. They are close to reality and allow users to worship, stroll the precincts and perform other typical shrine activities. In addition, the digital shrine includes fun attractions for users that are only available in the metaverse.  EY Japan provided services to define the system requirements and, based on the ideal user experience developed by EY, used design thinking (a problem-solving method) to create the digital shrine.

Outline: metaverse counterpart of Torikai Hachimangu Shrine

Concept
Forward-looking digital shrine where anyone can gather and spend time in his/her own way

Features
1) Digital shrine allows for remote visits from Japan and overseas as well as for those in the surrounding community with limited mobility. It also offers the experience of typical shrine events, including worship and receiving a paper fortune
2) Users can learn about the shrine, its history and culture by collecting digital information cards which are posted throughout the precincts
3) It offers game-like attractions for users to enjoy, such as the Lucky Man/Lucky Woman race (a race through the precincts to select the luckiest person) and wearing the kimono of a shrine maiden

Access
The Digital shrine can be accessed from the Torikai Hachimangu Shrine homepage:
https://hachimansama.jp/

EY Japan integrates knowledge from services incorporating digital technologies, including the metaverse, with services for clients, offering this integrated knowledge to companies that are exploring new initiatives or interested in the fusion of the digital and real worlds. We will use this activity to continue supporting our clients in developing and evolving their businesses.
 

For information about the construction of a metaverse counterpart of Torikai Hachimangu Shrine, please click the link: 
https://www.ey.com/ja_jp/technology/tech-at-ey (Japanese language only)
 

Photos and digital images of Torikai Hachimangu Shrine

Digital information card in the digital shrine

Lucky Man/Lucky Woman race through the precincts

Wearing a shrine maiden kimono in the digital shrine

For information about EY’s metaverse solutions, please click the link:
Metaverse: new ways for companies and customers to interact (Japanese language only)

Note: This is an English translation of the news release which EY Japan published on 1st June 2023 (local time). Where there is any divergence between the Japanese original and the translated version, the original will prevail.

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