Groundbreaking collaboration between Cho-Kabuki and Taiwan’s traditional Guan Jiang Shou showcased at Expo 2025.

News Highlights:

• “CHO KABUKI Powered by IOWN” connected performers in Japan and Taiwan at Expo 2025 using the world’s first international IOWN All-Photonics Network activated in 2024.
• IOWN All-Photonics Network aims to revolutionize long-distance data transfer using optical photonics to achieve ultra-high capacity, ultra-low latency and ultra-low power consumption.
• NTT Pavilion at Expo 2025 explores the theme “Parallel Travel,” taking visitors on a journey through the past, present and future of communications technologies, powered by IOWN.

At Expo 2025, NTT Corporation (NTT) debuted “CHO KABUKI Powered by IOWN,” a theater performance synchronizing live and virtual performers in Osaka, Japan and Taipei City, Taiwan using the NTT Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) All-Photonics Network (APN). The performances occurred on May 24 and May 25 utilizing the world’s first International IOWN APN, activated by NTT and Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (Chunghwa Telecom) in August 2024.

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Through the IOWN APN, the movements of performers in Taiwan were transmitted in real time to Japan, where they were synchronized with performers at the Osaka Expo site to create a unified production—as if the distant performers were sharing the same stage.

“CHO KABUKI Powered by IOWN” tells the story of Princess Miku (performed by Hatsune Miku) and Tadanobu (performed by Shidō Nakamura), who battle the Azure Dragon while traveling through the legendary Thousand Cherry Blossoms that span from the Age of Gods to the present day. Through the IOWN APN, the movements of performers in Taiwan were transmitted in real time to Japan, where they were synchronized with performers at the Osaka Expo site to create a unified production—as if the distant performers were sharing the same stage in-person.

In addition, the performance enabled audience participation through the detection of penlights using cross-modal search technology. By analyzing and quantifying the swing of audience members’ penlights in real-time, the performance integrated spectators into the efforts to save Princess Miku.

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Prior to the performances, NTT utilized its digital twin technology (AnotherMe), AI and its proprietary cross-lingual speech synthesis technology to create a virtual copy of Kabuki actor Shidō Nakamura. This multilingual “Shidō Twin,” capable of speaking in languages including Japanese, English and Chinese, guided visitors to the venue and provided an overview of how to use designated earphones to enjoy the Kabuki performance.

“CHO KABUKI Powered by IOWN” was sponsored by NTT and produced by NTT, Shochiku Co., Ltd. and Dwango Co., Ltd., with special cooperation from Chunghwa Telecom.

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Source – Businesswire