【8ships LLC】 Experience Japanese culture and cutting-edge technology at the large-scale culture festival “RIZE3x Expo,” making its first appearance in Japan. Media preview held. 8ships LLC Press Release: August 28, 2025 To Members of the Media A large-scale culture festival where you can experience Japanese culture and cutting-edge technology: “RIZE3x Expo” makes its first appearance in Japan. A media preview will be held. First look inside the main venue, “RIZE TOWER” in Umeda, Osaka! Representatives from Sanrio, Chishima Real Estate, and 8ships share their expectations for the event. 8ships (Headquarters: California, USA; Representative Director: Terry Tomonaga) is a subsidiary of Good Smile Company, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Suntory Group. Together with Measure
(headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Jun Takeuchi), we will be holding the participatory hybrid event “RIZE3x Expo,” which will take place throughout Osaka from Saturday, August 30th to Sunday, September 21st, 2025. Prior to the event, a preview for the media was held on Thursday, August 28th at “RIZE TOWER” in Umeda, Osaka. On the day, Terry Tomonaga, CEO of 8ships, organizers of “RIZE3x Expo,” outlined the diverse attractions, including new experiences centered around the “RIZE TOWER” base, which combines art, culture, and technology; a real-life quest that visits 500 locations throughout Osaka Prefecture; and VIP-only events. He passionately stated, “This event is themed ‘From Osaka to the World,’ and we hope to share Japan’s hidden gems and charms with the world through these experiences.” Afterwards, Wataru Noji of partner company Sanrio Co., Ltd.’s Digital Business Development Department took the stage. He expressed his expectations for the event, saying, “We hope that people overseas will also enjoy the Sanrio Virtual Festival, which utilizes technology (XR) that blends the real and virtual worlds.” Also taking the stage as a special sponsoring partner was Yoshimi Uno, Public Relations Officer for the General Affairs Department at Osaka-based Chishima Real Estate Co., Ltd. She spoke of her aspirations for the event, saying, “We are delighted that this building, which had been scheduled for demolition, will be brought to the attention of many people through this event. We hope this will serve as an opportunity to convey the charm of Osaka.” At the end of the event, media representatives in attendance were given a chance to experience a special video, experience art and technology content, and experience a vending machine, one of the “RIZE Spots” installed around Osaka, allowing them to experience the world of “RIZE3x Expo.”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167957/2/167957-2-64a74d817ba1c9e2b1f95cada41ce9c0-3900×2601.jpg An “urban adventure” experience set in 500 locations throughout Osaka Prefecture “RIZE3x Expo” is a new urban experiential festival that combines art, culture, and technology. It will take place from Saturday, August 30, 2025, to Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 500 locations across Osaka Prefecture, centered around the nine-story immersive space “RIZE TOWER” in Umeda, Osaka. The Osaka Expo site, 50 registered cultural properties in Osaka, 100 vending machines, train stations, tourist areas, and shopping streets will all be incorporated into “RIZE QUEST Osaka City,” turning the entire city into a real-life adventure! Under the theme of “REVIVE JAPAN” x “Hidden Gems,” this event aims to promote the new appeal of Japan both domestically and internationally. 8ships CEO Terry introduces the full details of “RIZE3x Expo” 8ships CEO Terry Tomonaga introduced the full details of “RIZE3x Expo” at the beginning of the media preview. He spoke about the appeal of this new urban experience festival that combines art, culture, and technology, centered around RIZE TOWER in Umeda, Osaka. Through a variety of attractions, including real-life quests set in 500 locations across Osaka Prefecture, VIP-only events, digital art, Showa retro, and interactive experiences, he spoke passionately about how “I want people to enjoy the process of one experience leading to the next,” demonstrating his enthusiasm for promoting the new appeal of Japan both domestically and internationally.
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governments, creators, and 14 universities! “RIZE3x Expo,” making its first appearance in Japan, will be held in various areas of Osaka Prefecture, with the participation of 16 partner companies and local governments, and 14 universities and educational institutions. Mr. Noji of the Digital Business Development Department at Sanrio Co., Ltd., a participating and partner company, explained their reasons for participating in the event, saying, “Through the provision of VR experiences and special content within RIZE TOWER, we aim to deliver new entertainment experiences to a wide range of generations.” He also explained the special video footage of the four-week Sanrio Virtual Festival that will be shown within RIZE TOWER. Mr. Uno, Public Relations Officer of the General Affairs Department at Chishima Real Estate Co., Ltd., a special sponsoring partner, emphasized that the company is working to promote the local charm and revitalize the region through art and urban development activities in areas such as Kita-Kagaya, and that this RIZE3x Expo will contribute to the creation of new value for Osaka. He spoke of his feelings for his hometown, Osaka, saying, “We want to invigorate the area through the unique business of promoting urban development through art, which is unique to a real estate company.”
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167957/2/167957-2-430ae059308b0db17b14e56075d2ec6a-3900×2601.jpg Sanrio Co., Ltd. Mr. Noji
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167957/2/167957-2-c845b2a7d03fb7b4fb1ea47ce16ff2a3-3900×2600.jpg Chishima Land Co., Ltd. Mr. Uno Details of each venue and experience spot The main venue, “RIZE TOWER,” is made up of the Art Floor, Retro Floor, Event Floor, Masterpiece Floor, Expression Floor, Digital Visual Floor, and Guild (Bar) Floor. There are no clear divisions between the floors, and various experiences are scattered throughout the building. Specially themed rooms offer a variety of immersive experiences that stimulate the senses, including retro gaming, interactive art, and RAKUGAKI art. In addition, there will be live art, collaborative performances, a film festival, and “RIZE QUEST Osaka City,” a real-life adventure set in 500 locations across Osaka Prefecture. Participants can experience their own story while exploring the city of Osaka. [Venue information] Main venue “RIZE TOWER” Location: 15-13 Usagano-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture Hours: Thursday to Sunday, 12:00 to 22:00
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167957/2/167957-2-bdc6f1cc0c1a4b2e8eda5c09ea89774e-3900×2600.jpg Sanrio Virtual Festival room (Sanrio Co., Ltd.) (C)’25 SANRIO Copyright Sanrio Co., Ltd.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167957/2/167957-2-0230da5920cddaf8442f4841adbf5846-3900×2193.png Kitakagaya Creative Village
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167957/2/167957-2-877e11378f25da9b80819fc7ef50d9a1-3900×2600.jpg Osaka miniature garden (KANSAI JAPAN) “RIZE Spot” in Osaka Prefecture
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/167957/2/167957-2-99ee60345aeb7ca5f67cae430b8140cd-1800×2700.jpg ・Vending machine ・1-2-32 Sonezaki-Shinchi, Kita-ku, Osaka *More than 100 locations in Osaka including restaurants, cultural assets, and vending machines Detailed information about “RIZE Spot” will be released sequentially on the official URL ■Main Schedule ※The schedule is subject to change. Saturday, August 30th: RIZE TOWER Opening Event Begins Sunday, September 7th: RIZE Art & Entertainment DAY
@Kita-Kagaya *Film director Yukihiko Tsutsumi and artist SNOWFRO will appear (first time in Asia) Wednesday, September 10th: RIZE Tokyo VIP Event @ Hibiki Futei (Tameike-sanno) Friday, September 12: RIZE Day @Osaka Expo / RIZE Osaka VIP Event @GLION MUSEUM *Film director Yukihiko Tsutsumi will be appearing September 13th (Sat) – 14th (Sun): Sanrio Virtual Festival Experience, Epson Timeless Watch Experience, SAKAZUKI Bar Hopping September 20th (Sat) – 21st (Sun): Finale Event @RIZE TOWER *On September 7th, SNOWFRO, a pioneer in generative NFT art, will be participating. This will be the first such opportunity in Asia. *On September 7th and 12th, film director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, who has directed many popular works, will be speaking. Participating company details *Partial excerpt ■ Sponsored 8ships ■Planning and management 8ships / Good Co., Ltd. Measure (Suntory Group) ■Special Sponsor Partner Chishima Real Estate Co., Ltd. ■List of Participating and Partner Companies and Local Governments Sanrio Co., Ltd., Toei Animation Co., Ltd., Kyoto Prefecture (planned), Nagasaki City, Pronto Corporation, Dynac Corporation, Kansai Super Studio Co., Ltd., Osaka Metro ADORA Co., Ltd., KANSAI JAPAN, SUPER SAPIENSS, Osaka Fringe Festival, National Association of Owners of Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Properties, Noda Shinbashisuji Shopping Street, Idea Package Co., Ltd. ■Participating and Cooperative Educational Institutions Ritsumeikan University, Kansai University Faculty of Informatics Yonezawa Laboratory, Kinki University (with cooperation from the organizers), Ryukoku University, Kyoto City University of Arts, Konan Women’s University, Osaka University of Arts, Kyoto Seika University, Mode Gakuen International Fashion University, Osaka Institute of Technology, Osaka Sangyo University, Osaka University of Economics, Osaka College of Design, Kyoto College of Art and Design, Osaka Visual Arts Academy, OCA Osaka Design & Technology College, etc. ■Sponsors Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, Nagasaki City, and the National Association of Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property Owners For more information about this release Copyright ©
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