“I want to see my favorite VTuber in person in the real world.”
Have you ever thought about something like that? Of course, if you enter a virtual space, you might have the opportunity to get closer to a VTuber. But what if a VTuber came to your real-world space?
An event offering an experience that even real-life artists rarely get to have took place on March 17, 2026. This time, I participated in the “mmWAVE DE VTuber ~ Mashiro Nagino Special 3D Talk Live” experience event hosted by Mawari, and I will report on my experience.
Experience seeing life-sized VTubers up close through AR glasses.
At the trial event, each participant was given an “XREAL Air 2 Ultra” AR glasses with a smartphone connected. When wearing these glasses and looking at the empty circular stage in the center, VTuber Mashiro Nagino was supposed to appear. Let’s try it out.
(Editor Associate Yuriika during the experience)
When I tried putting it on…
A life-sized Mashiro Nagino appeared in the space right in front of me! The 3D model had a real sense of depth, and watching her move around and respond in real time made me feel like I was really in the same room as her.
The value of this experiential event goes beyond that. If the goal is simply to “project a life-sized 3D avatar in real time,” then existing technologies, such as displaying it on a large screen, can achieve this.
However, in this experience, we were able to view it from any angle we liked, 360 degrees. I think I was the one walking around the most in our group of participants because of how shocking that was. The experience of being able to view a 3D avatar from any angle in 360 degrees, unlike conventional video, was truly refreshing.
Also, when I looked closely at the characters’ feet, I noticed that they were standing naturally on the ground without appearing to float. I realized that the absence of such unnaturalness is a prerequisite for achieving the feeling that they are “right in front of you.” The depiction of the “shadows” cast on the floor also gave me a strong sense that “Mashiro Nagino is actually there.”
(View of the ground)
During the experience, Mashiro Nagino engaged in lively conversation with the MC, discussing things like “What kind of game should we play?” There was no noticeable lag in her movements throughout, and the fact that such high-definition 3D data could be manipulated in real time while natural communication was taking place truly demonstrated the technological prowess that made this event possible.
On the other hand, perhaps due to the large number of participants, we observed some challenges, such as the time required to prepare devices and occasional connection interruptions.
However, in the viewing area, participants were watching Mashiro from their own chosen spots, creating a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Some participants were diligently taking rapid-fire photos with their smartphones through the AR glasses, showing a strong interest in the technology.
It was an experience that allowed me to truly feel the future of entertainment, where “no matter where you are, your favorite idol is right beside you.”
(Participants experiencing the event from various perspectives)
(View of the venue from a monitor)
At the end of the experience session, Mashiro commented, “I’m so happy that we were able to be in the same space!” It seemed that the VTubers were also deeply moved by the experience of sharing the same time with everyone.
How was this technology realized? The key is “5G millimeter wave” x “ARAWA”.
This event was made possible by the combination of KDDI’s high-speed communication “5G millimeter wave” and Mawari’s real-time platform “ARAWA”. Originally, projecting high-quality 3D avatars onto AR glasses (rendering, the process by which a computer generates images and videos from data) required processing on a high-performance PC.
However, in this case, the video is generated on the cloud side, and that massive amount of data is instantly transferred using millimeter waves. This enables real-time projection with no delay, making it seem as if the person is actually there, even on devices like smart glasses.
First of all, what exactly is KDDI’s “5G millimeter-wave communication”?
5G millimeter-wave communication is a communication technology that uses a higher frequency band than regular 5G (Sub6) communication. The higher frequency band (more waves) allows for a greater amount of data to be handled simultaneously.
Sending large amounts of data requires a wide bandwidth. With standard 5G (Sub6) communication, you may experience video stuttering due to competition for bandwidth with other users, but millimeter wave allows data to flow with ample headroom.
However, 5G millimeter-wave communication also has its challenges due to its use of high-frequency bands. The higher the frequency, the weaker the directivity (the more susceptible it is to interference from obstacles). To address this challenge, KDDI is attempting to expand its communication area by using repeaters to cover the communication range.
(Features and challenges of 5G millimeter-wave communication)
(Click here for details on expanding coverage using repeaters)
This experiment was made possible because the newly installed base stations were utilized. KDDI plans to provide a testing ground for next-generation content using millimeter-wave communication in the future.
What is “ARAWA,” the new platform offered by Mawari?
Another platform that supported this experience was “ARAWA,” released by Mawari. It’s a next-generation platform that provides end-to-end support for 3D content creation and monetization. It primarily has three functions. (Note: The creation tools are currently only distributed to partner companies.)
Simply hold up your smartphone or tablet, and the real-world scenery and 3D models will seamlessly blend together. Any location on the street will instantly transform into a high-quality “MR studio.”
The app’s greatest appeal lies in the overwhelming sense of presence it offers, making the digital VTubers feel “really there.” Low-latency streaming via millimeter-wave communication enables real-time face-to-face interaction with the characters, creating an immersive experience as if you were sharing the same space. Furthermore, the amazing experiences you have can be seamlessly shared on YouTube and social media.
Leveraging the ability of MR (Mixed Reality) to enable anyone to shoot videos anywhere, it becomes possible for VTubers to visit various locations, much like local mascots. Companies can then support this with advertising or sell exclusive MR videos, aiming to establish new revenue models.
The technique to make your favorite idol appear right before your eyes.
Mawari, the organizer of this event, is driving the next generation of XR experiences by delivering immersive, high-quality 3D experiences to the world. They have been working on projects to “make your favorite character appear right in front of you,” and in January 2025, they conducted a demo experience where users could converse with a VTuber in real time (using the Quest Meta 3 VR headset).
Similar initiatives are being undertaken by other companies. In February 2025, as a proof-of-concept experiment by ANYCOLOR, a talk show featuring Kagami Hayato, president of Nijisanji, was held. At this event, participants wore Quest Meta 3 VR headsets, enabling real-time discussion.
The event we covered this time had the same purpose, but the big difference was that it was implemented using “AR glasses,” which are lighter than VR headsets, specifically the “XREAL Air 2 Ultra.” VR headsets have high specifications, especially in terms of visuals, and offer a greater sense of immersion and realism, but when they need to be worn for long periods, such as in a talk show, there are concerns about participant fatigue. On the other hand, AR glasses have drawbacks such as a narrow field of view and low resolution. Currently, both devices have their advantages and disadvantages, and I think the solution will be to use them interchangeably depending on the purpose of use and the duration of the experience.
Nevertheless, I’m hopeful that the experience of feeling close to my favorite idol right in front of me will continue to evolve. I’ll be keeping a close eye on future technological advancements.
Click here for the ARAWA official website.
ARAWA’s official X account is here.
This article is an English translation of an original Japanese article, translated by the Mogura VR editorial team.
Reference
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000024.000070300.html
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000026.000070300.html
