NTT showcases IOWN Tech at Osaka Expo

Osaka

 The Osaka Kansai World Expo recently served as a global platform for countries to showcase their culture, arts, and advanced technologies. Among the standout presentations was by Japanese ICT giant NTT, which introduced its cutting-edge IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) technology.

IOWN technology enabled seamless, real-time communication between Japan and Taiwan, offering ultra-low latency, high data capacity, and improved energy efficiency. NTT highlighted these capabilities through a special cross-border performance of the traditional Kabuki play Senbon Zakura (“A Thousand Cherry Trees”), digitally adapted to appeal to modern audiences.

This unique performance featured a collaboration between live stage actors and the virtual pop idol Hatsune Miku, broadcast simultaneously between Japan and Taiwan with no perceptible delay—an achievement made possible by IOWN. Typically, such connections suffer from a delay of several seconds, but IOWN eliminated this barrier, creating an immersive and emotionally resonant experience. NTT’s Senior Executive Vice President, Katsuhiko Kawazoe, explained that the project, now in its tenth iteration since 2016, aims to introduce Kabuki to younger generations through innovative formats. He recalled how young audience members, initially drawn by Hatsune Miku, were deeply moved by the traditional art form itself.

In addition to redefining cultural engagement, IOWN has a strong environmental goal—reducing energy consumption to just one-hundredth of current levels. At the Expo, NTT demonstrated a successful energy reduction to one-eighth of standard usage. NTT’s presentation underscored how advanced technology can preserve heritage, bridge distances, and contribute to sustainability.