Japan's First! An Aquarium Experienced Through All Five Senses

The immersive hall event "AQUARIUM BY NAKED –TO THE SEA–," where visitors experience a sea voyage through all five senses, ran until the end of August. This report explores this innovative new-sensation event.

Reporting & Editing: Aki Kanahara, Dentsu Inc. Event & Space Design Bureau

 

Now, let's introduce "AQUARIUM BY NAKED –TO THE SEA–" (hereafter "Aquarium").
Aquarium is an event where you can experience a journey from the beach to the deep sea, as if diving into the ocean, through all five senses: visuals, music, scent, and more. That said, there are no real tanks or fish like in a typical aquarium. It's designed as an entirely virtual experience, allowing you to journey to the deep sea. It's filled with a world that can only be experienced virtually.

 

1. Wave of Lives

The entrance floor features a beach-like texture, where a world of projected wave imagery and sound unfolds. Sensors detect approaching visitors, triggering interactive elements like light particles—inspired by fireflies—gathering around them. The refreshing aroma of coastal plants further draws visitors into this introductory experience.

 

2.  Symphony of Lives

Passing through the beach, a sardine run (a massive school of sardines) appears. Images of fish swimming together as one are projected onto an object inspired by a fish school. Additionally, marine creatures (such as tropical fish) are created on the walls using light, allowing visitors to feel the beautiful birth of life.

 

3. Delight of Lives

Following the installation of a vast sardine school, two aquariums appear projected onto the walls, as if carved out of them. An interactive display features the sea swallow, a type of pufferfish, that follows visitors' movements. Joined by adorable sea creatures like sea turtles, visitors can enjoy playing with them.

 

4. Oasis Gate

Oasis Gate welcomes visitors to the underwater world with an illumination object display and oasis scents that enhance the atmosphere. The illumination object is a spherical installation where images are projected using fiber optics and projectors, expressing the fantastical world of the deep sea.

 

5. Deep Sea Oasis

The main attraction at the ocean floor is an impressive 3D projection mapping covering the entire wall of the hall. A giant sperm whale inhabiting the deep sea appears, guiding visitors on a journey to the ocean floor. Mysterious, luminous jellyfish, shrimp, squid, and other creatures appear, creating an immersive experience as if adventuring through the deep sea world from the sperm whale's perspective. The approximately 8-minute-30-second video also projects fantastical crystal-like chimneys (hydrothermal vents) and undersea volcanoes, depicting the mysteries of deep-sea life. Adjacent to Deep Sea Oasis is a bar counter where you can enjoy drinks while enveloped in the scent of the deep sea.

 

6. Finally

Photography and video recording are permitted throughout the aquarium, encouraging visitors to share their photos and videos on Instagram and other platforms. A commemorative photo corner is also located near the exit, and we hope these posts will attract many new visitors.

 

We encourage you to visit in person and experience it with all five senses, but first, please watch our highlight video.

 

Next time, we'll bring you an interview with Ryotaro Muramatsu, CEO of NAKED Inc., who oversaw the overall production, about the behind-the-scenes story from planning to creation!

*While NAKED Inc. has been creating new ways to enjoy aquariums since 2014—such as the "Night Aquarium" at Shin-Enoshima Aquarium and the "Paradise Aquarium" at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise—this "Aquarium" experience engaging all five senses is a first in Japan.