The diversity potential of augmented reality sport

J-STORIES - Imagine a cross between a physical sport and a video game. Imagine if digital enhancements could compensate for differences in physical ability. And imagine if able-bodied and disabled people could play together on an equal footing.

That is Hado, an “augmented reality sport” created in 2014 by Tokyo-based startup Meleap Inc. In the team game, players physically move about and try to score goals. But they also wear headsets, shoot energy balls and defend themselves with virtual shields.

An illustration of a Hado game. Each game lasts 80 seconds and there are up to three players on each team.      Source: Meleap — An illustration of a Hado game. Each game lasts 80 seconds and there are up to three players on each team. Source: Meleap

Meleap CEO Hiroshi Fukuda says he was inspired by the fantasy martial arts manga Dragon Ball. He named his game after the hadoken fireballs that often appear in Japanese manga, anime and video games.

But Hado is more than just entertainment. Since April 2022, the Shibaura Institute of Technology has been using Hado in its physical education classes to research new ideas for sports and new devices. Players use not just their own physical abilities but also digital abilities such as ball speed or shield strength.

Because these digital powers can be adjusted for each player, Hado is well suited to parasports. In fact, people of different ages and with different disabilities or abilities can all play the e-sport together.

Elements such as the size of the energy ball can be adjusted for individual players.      Source: Meleap — Elements such as the size of the energy ball can be adjusted for individual players. Source: Meleap

Hado is also being used in medical settings, such as a day care program at the Sanmaibashi hospital north of Tokyo. Day patients in the psychiatric department have fun playing Hado alongside others who are knitting, watching movies, and doing yoga or other activities.

Hado is now being played in 109 locations in 39 countries. In April 2022, Meleap opened its Hado flagship store in Tokyo’s fashionable Odaiba waterfront area. The company also has plans to invite instructors in the AR sport from abroad to teach non-Japanese players at the new facility.

The Hado Arena, Meleap’s flagship store in Tokyo’s Odaiba. Up to 232 people can watch matches.      Source: Meleap — The Hado Arena, Meleap’s flagship store in Tokyo’s Odaiba. Up to 232 people can watch matches. Source: Meleap

Ayumu Nara, an event promoter at Meleap, told J-Stories: “We believe that we need to develop Hado in various forms to popularize it around the world.”

“We’d like to see more people having fun with Hado as we apply it to different fields such as professional sports, recreation and physiotherapy,” he said. “That way, people would enjoy it even more.”