Panasonic State-of-the-Art Technology Meets Kabuki in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation is sponsoring and will provide technical support to the Japan KABUKI Festival in Las Vegas 2016 (produced by Shochiku Co., Ltd.), running from April 29 to May 7. Panasonic hopes to highlight a new approach to performing and enjoying Kabuki, the classical Japanese dance drama that dates back more than 400 years, by enlivening the performance of the art form with state-of-the-art technology to make it more engaging and accessible to contemporary entertainment seekers. Panasonic's support includes the following initiatives:

A) Special sponsorship and technical support for the first theatrical performance of Kabuki in Las Vegas: "Panasonic presents Wonder KABUKI Spectacle 'KABUKI LION'–The Adventures of the Mythical Lion"
Dates: May 3 to 7, 2016 (five days, six shows)
Venue: David Copperfield Theater at the MGM Grand Hotel
Technology Details: Theatrical video production using high-lumen projectors
Panasonic enjoys the world's largest market share in high-performance, high-lumen projectors (5,000 lumens or more); Panasonic will deploy nine 20,000-lumen PT-DZ21K digital projectors to support the production in the David Copperfield Theater.  By leveraging the projectors' advanced features, including their high lumen output, ample energy savings, compact size, and high geometric adjustment technology, the projectors will help to enable a more engrossing production and dynamic video presentation.
Video production for this theatrical performance will be undertaken by NAKED, a popular avant-garde Japanese space creation company, directed by Ryotaro Muramatsu.

B) Trial of next-generation guest services at the technology showcase "KABUKI LION Interactive Showcase" in David Copperfield Theater's Lobby
Dates: May 3 to 7, 2016 (five days)
Venue: Lobby of David Copperfield Theater
Technology Details:

(1) "3D KABUKI AVATAR" - Trial of interactive services for fans using innovative 3D scanner
Visitors will be able to take a 3D photo of themselves in the theater's lobby, using a3D scanner equipped with 54 Panasonic LUMIX digital cameras.  The 3D photo can then be processed into either an original Kabuki figurine memento or a movie in which the avatar of the visitor dances just like a professional Kabuki actor. Information to visitors will also be provided using Panasonic's original light ID technology, which enables the participant to collect additional information by placing their smartphones adjacent to a light terminal device. Also, selected participants may be invited to see the KABUKI show, where their avatar might play a role in a video that will be shown on stage.  

(2) Trial of automated hotel services
Using an autonomous delivery robot that has already been put into commercial use at hospitals in Japan and overseas, a test demonstration will be held in which the sociable robot circulates round the lobby, advertising the KABUKI show and distributing free water to visitors.

C) Special sponsorship and technical support for one of the world's largest water screen projections: "Panasonic presents 'Water Screen Digital Show by Shochiku X teamLab'"

Dates: April 29 to May 7, 2016 (nine days)
Venue: Fountains of Bellagio, Las Vegas
Technology Details: On the artificial lake at the Bellagio thirteen 20,000-lumen PT-DZ21K projectors will digitally depict the tale of an aquatic Samurai battle using the fountains as a huge, 300meter wide screen. The video to be projected will be produced by teamLab, a digital creative company highly renowned worldwide for its art works based on digital technology,  and directed by Toshiyuki Inoko.

This will be the second visit to Las Vegas by this collaborative project between Panasonic and Shochiku Co., Ltd., which began under the theme "fusion of tradition and state-of-the-art technology" in Las Vegas, following the debut last August of "Panasonic presents KABUKI Spectacle at Fountains of Bellagio 'Koi-Tsukami'–Fight with a Carp."

Panasonic Corporation Senior Managing Director Yasuji Enokido, who leads the company's worldwide solutions business, commented on the company's plans to further develop solutions for specific industries:  "Providing solutions for the entertainment industry is one of Panasonic's strategic businesses," he said.  "Stadiums, theme parks and theaters around the world are constantly searching for new ways to deliver a better fan experience, and expectations of what we can do as a technology partner are rising. In addition to event production using our highly-renowned projectors, Panasonic is working hard to provide deeper and more diverse value to the fan or showgoer, as you can tell from the technologies we are deploying as part of this Kabuki Festival."

Satoshi Takeyasu, executive officer of Panasonic Corporation in charge of Corporate Communications, Advertising and CSR, said: "We respect and identify with the efforts of Kabuki professionals who uphold a wonderful tradition that spans over 400 years, and yet are constantly eager to innovate and try something new to help more people enjoy their art form.  This is why we have continued to collaborate with Shochiku and MGM following the success of last August's Kabuki event in Las Vegas. This time, we are incorporating additional technical trials too."  Turning his attention to the Olympics Games, Mr. Takeyasu commented: "2016 is the year of the Rio Olympics Games and the Paralympics, and Olympism is about promoting cultural appreciation as well as sports. After the Rio Games, it's Tokyo's turn and the efforts to promote Japanese culture throughout the world will draw greater attention to Japan's capital city. Japanese culture is full of wonders and we hope to share this legacy with the world in innovative and surprising new ways, using our latest solutions technologies."

News and information about the performances and trials in the theater's lobby will be available on the following websites

• 「Japan KABUKI Festival in Las Vegas 2016」 special site
  http://news.panasonic.com/global/presskits/kabuki2016

• Kabukibito (Shochiku Kabuki official website)
  http://www.kabuki-bito.jp/japankabuki/en/index.html

Related Links

• Panasonic Projectors Bring to Life One of the World's Largest Water Screen Projections (2016/8/19)
  http://news.panasonic.com/global/topics/2015/44077.html

(Video Report)

• Kabuki Spectacle + Panasonic projectors @ Las Vegas
  http://channel.panasonic.com/contents/16193/

About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, enterprise solutions and device industries. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates 468 subsidiaries and 94 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.715 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2015. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global

SOURCE Panasonic Corporation

Related Links

http://www.panasonic.com