The Digital Entertainment City Namba: A Revolutionary Smart City Integration of AI, XR, and DePIN
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Mawari, a leader in spatial computing and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), has partnered with Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Meta Osaka Co., Ltd., and e-stadium Co., Ltd. to create the “Digital Entertainment City Namba.”
This ambitious urban development project, set to unfold in Osaka, Japan, promises to be the world’s first fully integrated ecosystem combining artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), and DePIN technologies at a city-wide scale.
The partnership brings together complementary strengths. Meta Osaka contributes strategic innovation and localized expertise, ensuring the project aligns with the region’s unique cultural and economic fabric.
On the other hand, e-stadium, a Nankai Group company, leverages its focus on e-sports and community engagement to address social challenges and foster a thriving digital culture. Together, these organizations are laying the groundwork for a smart city that integrates advanced technology with everyday life.
Mawari’s role is pivotal, deploying edge computing and rendering devices across Nankai’s properties to deliver decentralized streaming infrastructure. This setup brings computation closer to users, minimizing delays and enabling real-time interactions with 3D AI agents that possess both “body and soul,” as described by the company. The result is a scalable, efficient system capable of supporting a wide range of applications, from entertainment to practical services.
For Mawari, the project represents a milestone in its mission to democratize AI-driven immersive experiences. According to the CEO Luis Oscar Ramirez, “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.”
A visionary fusion of technology and urban life
At the heart of the “Digital Entertainment City Namba” project is Mawari’s pioneering technology, which powers real-time 3D streaming of lifelike AI-driven avatars. These avatars, rendered with minimal latency, offer a new level of immersion and interactivity, capable of performing tasks such as guiding tourists, assisting customers, and facilitating human-like communication across language barriers.
Notably, the project builds on Mawari’s extensive experience, having successfully executed over 50 XR projects worldwide since 2019.
By integrating AI, XR, and a decentralized network of edge computing devices, the Digital Entertainment City Namba will transform Nankai’s railway stations and properties into vibrant digital hubs that seamlessly merge virtual and physical experiences.
Founded in 1885, Nankai Electric Railway is one of Japan’s oldest private rail operators, with a network spanning over 100 stations across multiple lines, including connections to Kansai International Airport and the Koyasan World Heritage Site.
Traditionally a transportation powerhouse, Nankai is now embracing a bold vision to evolve its infrastructure beyond mere transit points. Under the leadership of President and COO Nobuyuki Okajima, the company has been working since 2023 to reimagine the Namba area as an “ENTAME-DIVER-CITY” — a dynamic hub of entertainment and co-creation.
This vision gained momentum with the opening of the e-Stadium Namba Main Branch, an e-sports facility, in August 2024 at Namba Parks, a commercial complex operated by Nankai. The addition of Tsutenkaku, a historic Osaka landmark, to the Nankai Group in December 2024 further expands the scope of this digital transformation.
Through the Digital Entertainment City initiative, Nankai aims to weave immersive experiences such as virtual idols, anime characters, and interactive storytelling into these physical spaces, creating a next-generation entertainment ecosystem.
Projected impact of the Digital Entertainment City Namba
The Digital Entertainment City Namba is poised to make a significant impact across multiple sectors.
For tourism, the project taps into Japan’s growing inbound travel market, which saw 23 million foreign visitors in 2023. Multilingual 3D guides and XR content will offer tourists intuitive navigation and immersive cultural experiences, boosting local businesses and elevating Osaka’s global appeal.
Beyond tourism, the initiative addresses Japan’s looming labor shortage, projected to reach 11 million workers by 2040, by creating flexible, remote work opportunities. AI-driven avatars will enable diverse groups, including caregivers, seniors, parents, and people with disabilities, to participate in industries like customer service and tourism through immersive interfaces.
This inclusive approach not only enhances accessibility but also aligns with Japan’s need for innovative workforce solutions.