The launch of Japan Travel Guide JTB on 3D virtual world “Second Life”

JTB Corp. proudly announces the launch of Japan Travel Guide JTB on 3D virtual world “Second Life”.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
May 20, 2008

JTB Corp. proudly announces the launch of Japan Travel Guide JTB on 3D virtual world “Second Life”.

JTB provides information in English language about how to enjoy a Japanese-style Inn (Ryokan), Japanese Foot Bath (Ashiyu) and Japanese garden for worldwide visitors to Japan.

■ JTB is the biggest travel company in Japan
■ JTB has launched an English version, which hardly find in Japanese companies.
■ JTB provides an entertaining space where visitors can feel the atmosphere of Japanese traditional dance (Bon dance) and enjoy dancing to original “JAPANiCAN dance music.”
■ Through a 3D virtual world, JTB draws the visitors’ attention to real websites of JTB Group companies, while introducing Japanese culture.


JTB has proudly launched the Japan Travel Guide JTB in English version with 3D virtual world “Second Life”.

JTB has started the Japan Travel Guide on a 3D virtual world “Second Life” supported in English for non-Japanese speakers, which is unique in Japan. As Second Life introduces a multilingual language support, the number of users is expected to significantly increase. Therefore, Second Life has the potential to replace a web browser as a new business market.

Based on this experience, JTB is actively researching the likelihood of world demand and expansion into new businesses in the virtual world. The main objective is to build a new business model.

As part of the plan, JAPANiCAN, one of our group companies running a site for non-Japanese visitors to Japan, shows how to enjoy a Japanese Inn (Ryokan), Japanese Foot Bath (Ashiyu) and Japanese garden. The outline is as follows.

Name of SIM (Name of island): " Japan Travel Guide JTB"
http://slurl.com/secondlife/JAPAN TRAVELGUIDE JTB/138/130/23
Contents: It consists of three areas - Japanese Inn (Ryokan), Japanese Foot Bath (Ashiyu) and Japanese garden.

1. In the Japanese Ryokan area, five kinds of Japanese culture such as how to take a Japanese bath, eating manners, etc. are shown using streaming videos in English. In the large hall, an amusing *camping spot is provided where visitors can feel the atmosphere of Japanese traditional dance (Bon dance) and enjoy dancing to original “JAPANiCAN dance music.”
2. In the Ashiyu area, a 3D feature is used, where a map-of-Japan-shaped virtual Ashiyu introduces real Onsen-Ryokans from all over Japan, guiding you to further local information on “JAPANiCAN.com” supported by JAPANiCAN.
3. In the Japanese garden area, JTB provides a garden of spectacular beauty for users around the world to be impressive for the first time they see.

Note: The term *camping is an activity in Second Life where visitors can get Linden Dollars by staying at one spot for a while.

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