XR / メタバースで「生き残る力」と「支え合う力」を届ける—岡山大学看護学分野との連携研究

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11false41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
読了時間: 5分

2026年3月27日、岡山大学の定例記者会見において、岡山大学大学院保健学域看護学分野の森恵子教授の概要が発表されました。

テーマは「VRとメタバースで命を守り、支える」—看護学の知見とXR技術を組み合わせ、二つの社会課題に向き合う研究です。

この研究について、白獅子が担うこと

今回、私たちが担うのはCGコンテンツの開発、XR体験の設計（VR / AR）、メタバース空間の構築というXR技術の部分です。研究の学術的設計、倫理審査、医療・看護面の監修はすべて岡山大学が担い、その「体験を届けるための器」を私たちが開発しています。

「生き残る力」と「支え合う力」

この研究は大きく二つの軸で構成されています。

① VRで「生き残る力」を育てる

対象は看護学生、そして高齢者を含む一般市民。土砂災害、洪水、地震、火災——こうした災害現場を仮想空間で疑似体験することで、「知識として知っている」を「体が動く」へ変えていくプログラムの開発を目指します。

看護学生へのインタビュー調査では、 VR体験後に「土砂災害は走っても間に合わないかもしれない」「警報が出たらすぐ避難できる準備をしようと思った」という声が寄せられています。

② メタバースで「支え合う力」をつくる

もう一つの軸は、がんサバイバーをはじめとする患者支援です。今回の発表では食道がん術後患者を対象としたメタバース患者会のモデルが紹介されました。場所を問わず、アバターを使って匿名で参加できる仮想空間の患者コミュニティ—、同じ経験を持つ人同士がつながり、継続的な支援を受けられる場をデジタルで構築します。

白獅子が担うのは、この「場」の設計と構築です。アバターの設計から空間の構築まで、体験設計の知見を活かします。

なぜ今、看護学とXR技術が組み合わさるのか

日本では高齢化の進行と気候変動に伴い、災害時の脆弱な人々—高齢者、療養中の患者さんへの支援の重要性が急速に高まっています。同時に、地理的・時間的制約を超えた支援手段が求められています。

看護学は「人をケアする」専門知識の体系です。 XR技術は「体験を設計する」ための手段です。この二つが組み合わさることで、これまで届けられなかった場所・人・状況にケアの体験を届けられる可能性が生まれます。

白獅子がインキュベーター入居以来、岡山大学をはじめとする研究機関と積み重ねてきた連携の形が、ここにまた一つ結実しました。

社会実装に向けて

今後の展望として、研究チームはVR教材と教育プログラムの完成、メタバース患者支援の実運用、そして将来的にインドネシア・フィリピンへの国際展開を見据えています。

白獅子は、技術パートナーとしてこの社会実装を支えていきます。「See, Change, Act!」—体験を通じて人が変わり、社会が変わる。その信念のもと、共同研究の連携をさらに深めていきます。

関連リンク

岡山大学プレスリリース https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/tp/release/release_id1520.html
白獅子・食道がん術後ケアVR研究ページhttps://www.snowlion.co.jp/post/esophagealcancervr

EN Title: Delivering the Power to Survive and the Power to Support Each Other Through XR and the Metaverse — A Collaborative Research Initiative with Okayama University's Department of Nursing

On March 27, 2026, at Okayama University's regular press conference, a joint research initiative was announced in collaboration with Professor Keiko Mori of the Graduate School of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Okayama University.

The theme: "Protecting and Supporting Lives Through VR and the Metaverse" — a research program that brings together nursing science expertise and XR technology to address two pressing social challenges.

What Snowlion Contributes

Let us be clear about our role from the outset.

Snowlion is not involved in medical practice or clinical judgment of any kind. Our contribution lies strictly in the domain of XR technology: developing CG content, designing immersive XR experiences (VR / AR), and building metaverse environments. The academic research design, ethical review processes, and all medical and nursing supervision are handled entirely by Okayama University. We develop the vessel through which these experiences are delivered.

A collaboration built on clear role definition between technical expertise and domain knowledge — this, we believe, is what is enabling this research to move toward real-world implementation.

Two Pillars: "The Power to Survive" and "The Power to Support Each Other"

This research is organized around two core axes.

① Building the "Power to Survive" Through VR

Targeting nursing students and the general public — with a particular focus on older adults — this program aims to help participants move from "knowing about disasters" to "being able to act when it matters." Through immersive simulations of disaster scenarios such as landslides, flooding, earthquakes, and fires in virtual environments, participants develop judgment and the instinct to respond.

In interview-based research conducted with nursing students following VR disaster experiences, participants shared responses such as: "I realized that in a landslide, even running might not be fast enough" and "When an alert is issued, I want to be ready to leave home immediately — not assume everything will be fine." These responses align exactly with what Snowlion has observed across years of disaster prevention VR development: knowledge alone does not change behavior. Lived experience does.

② Building the "Power to Support Each Other" Through the Metaverse

The second axis focuses on patient support, beginning with cancer survivors. This initiative introduced a metaverse-based patient community model designed for individuals recovering from esophageal cancer surgery. The vision is a digital space where patients can connect anonymously through avatars, participate from anywhere, share experiences with others who truly understand, and receive ongoing support — free from the constraints of geography or time.

Snowlion's role is to design and build this space. What kind of environment would allow patients who are prone to isolation to step in and feel safe? From avatar design to the overall atmosphere of the virtual space, we bring our experience in experiential design to bear.

Why Nursing Science and XR Technology Are Coming Together Now

Japan faces a rapidly growing need to support vulnerable populations during disasters — particularly older adults and those undergoing medical treatment — driven by both an aging society and increasingly severe climate-related events. At the same time, there is urgent demand for support systems that can transcend geographic and temporal barriers.

Nursing science is a body of knowledge centered on caring for people. XR technology is a means of designing experience. When the two converge, it becomes possible to deliver care-based experiences to people, places, and situations that were previously out of reach.

This initiative represents another step forward in the collaborative relationships that Snowlion has been building with Okayama University and other research institutions since joining the university's incubation facility.

Toward Real-World Implementation

Looking ahead, the research team aims to complete VR teaching materials and educational programs, launch the operational phase of the metaverse patient support community, and explore international expansion — with disaster-prone countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines in view.

Snowlion will continue as a technology partner committed to making this vision a reality. "See, Change, Act!" — when people are moved by experience, society changes. Guided by this conviction, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Okayama University and Professor Mori.

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