Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration to Produce "Natural Disaster Experience VR"
~Fusion of TV Station Archives/Expressive Power and XR Technology, Immersive Experience Without Controllers~
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 00:59
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 16:47
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 17, 2026 at 02:21 (369h 33m after Collected)
NeoRealX Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Masayasu Ando), in collaboration with Nankai Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture; President: Koji Onishi) and Ehime Prefectural Government, is promoting the "Disaster Preparedness Improvement Project Utilizing Natural Disaster Experience VR Videos" with the aim of enhancing the disaster preparedness capabilities of Ehime residents.
This project is being implemented through an industry-academia-government collaboration involving Ehime Prefecture, NeoRealX, Nankai Broadcasting, and experts from Ehime University. Its purpose is to deepen understanding of intensifying disaster risks, including the Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake, which is feared to occur in the near future, and to promote the spread of digital experiential disaster prevention training in the region.
## Three Features of This Project
### 1. Ehime-specific VR Experience Simulation Covering Four Types of Disasters
VR experience content consisting of four parts—"Earthquake," "Tsunami," "Wind and Flood Damage," and "Fire"—has been produced, set in various locations within Ehime Prefecture (Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen, Nanyo region, etc.).
* **Earthquake Edition**: Recreates the intense shaking (estimated to last 1-2 minutes) of the Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake.
* **Tsunami Edition**: Set in the Nanyo region, it simulates the threat of tsunamis at different heights: 30cm, 1m, and up to 8m. You can experience a "wall of muddy water" where cars are swept away by 1m of inundation and buildings are destroyed by 8m.
* **Wind and Flood Damage Edition**: Fuses actual footage from the 2018 West Japan Flood (Yoshida-cho, Uwajima City) with CG. It visualizes the terror of rapid inundation and the risk of landslides.
* **Fire Edition**: Recreates fires caused by kitchen fires or short circuits after furniture overturns, as secondary disasters following an earthquake. It also includes quizzes to learn evacuation postures to avoid smoke.
### 2. Controller-Free. Intuitive Operation for Anyone
To ensure that even first-time VR users, the elderly, and children can experience this system without confusion, we have developed **8K VR video playback software that uses no controllers whatsoever**.
By wearing a head-mounted display and scanning a dedicated QR code, users can start and switch videos with a simple operation design.
### 3. Practical Disaster Prevention Experience Supervised by Experts
Under the supervision of the Ehime University Disaster Information Research Center (Associate Director Toru Futakami, Specially Appointed Professor Hiroshi Yamamoto), the reproduction of the Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake's shaking and tsunami behavior has been thoroughly pursued. Beyond merely a visual experience, the Earthquake and Fire editions emphasize "disaster prevention bags at the entrance" and convey the message of concrete preparation, such as "keeping them at the entrance for quick evacuation."
Furthermore, the Tsunami and Wind and Flood Damage editions combine actual archive footage with AI-generated reproduction footage, creating a composition that strongly impresses the reality of the threat.
## Future Developments
This VR content will be utilized in disaster prevention drills and educational settings within the prefecture and is also publicly available on the official Ehime Prefecture YouTube channel. In addition, general experience sessions are planned for events such as the Nankai Broadcasting "Disaster Prevention Fes" scheduled for May 2026.
Connecting to the Future Ehime Disaster Prevention VR: Ehime Prefecture Official Channel
This project is being implemented through an industry-academia-government collaboration involving Ehime Prefecture, NeoRealX, Nankai Broadcasting, and experts from Ehime University. Its purpose is to deepen understanding of intensifying disaster risks, including the Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake, which is feared to occur in the near future, and to promote the spread of digital experiential disaster prevention training in the region.
## Three Features of This Project
### 1. Ehime-specific VR Experience Simulation Covering Four Types of Disasters
VR experience content consisting of four parts—"Earthquake," "Tsunami," "Wind and Flood Damage," and "Fire"—has been produced, set in various locations within Ehime Prefecture (Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen, Nanyo region, etc.).
* **Earthquake Edition**: Recreates the intense shaking (estimated to last 1-2 minutes) of the Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake.
* **Tsunami Edition**: Set in the Nanyo region, it simulates the threat of tsunamis at different heights: 30cm, 1m, and up to 8m. You can experience a "wall of muddy water" where cars are swept away by 1m of inundation and buildings are destroyed by 8m.
* **Wind and Flood Damage Edition**: Fuses actual footage from the 2018 West Japan Flood (Yoshida-cho, Uwajima City) with CG. It visualizes the terror of rapid inundation and the risk of landslides.
* **Fire Edition**: Recreates fires caused by kitchen fires or short circuits after furniture overturns, as secondary disasters following an earthquake. It also includes quizzes to learn evacuation postures to avoid smoke.
### 2. Controller-Free. Intuitive Operation for Anyone
To ensure that even first-time VR users, the elderly, and children can experience this system without confusion, we have developed **8K VR video playback software that uses no controllers whatsoever**.
By wearing a head-mounted display and scanning a dedicated QR code, users can start and switch videos with a simple operation design.
### 3. Practical Disaster Prevention Experience Supervised by Experts
Under the supervision of the Ehime University Disaster Information Research Center (Associate Director Toru Futakami, Specially Appointed Professor Hiroshi Yamamoto), the reproduction of the Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake's shaking and tsunami behavior has been thoroughly pursued. Beyond merely a visual experience, the Earthquake and Fire editions emphasize "disaster prevention bags at the entrance" and convey the message of concrete preparation, such as "keeping them at the entrance for quick evacuation."
Furthermore, the Tsunami and Wind and Flood Damage editions combine actual archive footage with AI-generated reproduction footage, creating a composition that strongly impresses the reality of the threat.
## Future Developments
This VR content will be utilized in disaster prevention drills and educational settings within the prefecture and is also publicly available on the official Ehime Prefecture YouTube channel. In addition, general experience sessions are planned for events such as the Nankai Broadcasting "Disaster Prevention Fes" scheduled for May 2026.
Connecting to the Future Ehime Disaster Prevention VR: Ehime Prefecture Official Channel
FAQ
Is this VR experience accessible to everyone?
Yes, its controller-free design allows a wide range of people, including seniors and children, to intuitively experience it.
What types of disasters can be experienced?
Four types of disasters—earthquakes, tsunamis, wind and flood damage, and fires—are simulated in specific locations within Ehime Prefecture.
Where can I experience this VR content?
It can be experienced at disaster prevention drills and educational settings in Ehime Prefecture, as well as public events like the Nankai Broadcasting 'Disaster Prevention Fes'.