Susumu Matsuda , SANTOKU COPORATION Executive Director: “For the four representative disasters that pose danger to people, we are researching and developing means to realize safety in stages in accordance with the needs of society, one by one.”

RiMM is a pioneering technology designed by SANTOKU CORPORATION to revolutionize human sensory experiences through cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) and multi-sensory integration. Founded by Susumu Matsuda, a visionary with over a decade of experience in image processing and semiconductor manufacturing, SANTOKU CORPORATION is at the forefront of innovation, bridging the gap between digital perception and human cognition. With a deep-rooted background in visual analysis, 3D visualization, and parallel processing, Matsuda recognized the potential of VR to enhance human interactions with digital environments. His expertise in robotic thinking algorithms, microcomputer boards, and real-time tactile feedback systems laid the foundation for RiMM’s core technologies. By combining visual, tactile, and sensory stimuli, SANTOKU COPORATION creates immersive experiences that go beyond conventional VR, enabling users to engage with digital content on a profoundly human level.

Since its development began in 2001, RiMM has advanced multi-sensory technology to enhance human perception, making digital interactions more intuitive and lifelike. SANTOKU COPORATION continues to push the boundaries of VR, AI-driven sensory feedback, and real-time haptic technology, shaping the future of human-computer interaction, robotics, and immersive training systems. The company’s the mission is clear: to create technology that feels natural, intuitive, and deeply connected to human sensation, paving the way for a future where digital and physical realities seamlessly merge.

In conversation with Susumu Matsuda, Executive Director of SANTOKU COPORATION

Q. The idea of directly stimulating the five senses is central to RiMM’s product development. Can you elaborate on how this approach enhances the user experience, and how it aligns with the company’s commitment to human biochemistry?

Human sensibility is deeply connected to emotions and artistic knowledge. However, if sensory stimulation is too strong, the risk of injury increases. The development of methods to stimulate human sensibility requires research and innovation that prioritize safety and security. Since 2005, our primary research and development focus has been on visual reproduction technologies that ensure safety and reliability. In 2007, we developed a driver training simulator designed to enhance human safety. All of these efforts are dedicated to advancing research and technology aimed at protecting people. Our main objective is to create services that promote safety and security through the five senses. We are particularly focused on addressing four major types of disasters that pose risks to human life: natural disasters, general emergencies (such as fires), industrial accidents, and human-caused incidents. To meet society’s evolving needs, we are systematically developing solutions that enhance safety in a step-by-step manner.

Q. RiMM integrates disaster databases to enhance shared experiences during crises. How does your technology facilitate the sharing of critical information, and what steps do you take to ensure data security and privacy?

RiMM’s disaster database information-sharing initiative began in 2014. Initially, disaster information was viewed negatively by society, and many companies were reluctant to make it public. However, we have consistently advocated that establishing a system for sharing disaster information through experience-based methods enhances safety and security. At the time, we emphasized that security and privacy would be safeguarded by implementing measures to prevent individuals from identifying “the person responsible for the disaster or the location where it occurred.” By ensuring that neither the individuals involved nor the disaster sites could be identified, we maintained data security while also protecting privacy.

Since around 2018, with the increasing adoption of VR disaster experience machines, more companies and organizations have recognized the value of using disaster information to build comprehensive databases. Today, Japan is evolving into a society where disaster information is shared across thirty-eight different industries. We remain committed to developing a standardized database that enables disaster information to be experienced through VR.

Q. RiMM’s philosophy is grounded in Japanese culture, emphasizing safety, reassurance, and respect for the individual. How do you plan to convey these values to global audiences?

Japan is the country with the highest commitment to realizing safety and security in the world. The Western approach to safety focuses on identifying the root causes of disasters and completely eliminating the factors that lead to them. In contrast, the Japanese approach emphasizes identifying the cause of a disaster when it occurs, developing countermeasures to prevent recurrence, and implementing strategies to contain its impact. Additionally, behavioral and operational changes are made to prevent disasters, mitigate their occurrence, and ensure overall safety.

These two approaches are fundamentally different, yet both are essential for comprehensive safety management. While creating an environment where disasters do not occur is ideal, unforeseen disasters can still arise under new circumstances. Therefore, adopting a balanced approach that incorporates both strategies is crucial.

Japan’s long-standing safety and security efforts have garnered global recognition, highlighting the nation’s commitment to disaster prevention. However, Japan’s approach to safety is deeply rooted in its cultural values. RiMM’s danger sensitivity improvement education system is a product of this cultural foundation. Nevertheless, it has become evident that a system allowing individuals to experience disasters through their five senses is universally effective, transcending cultural differences.

Currently, RiMM is used in eight countries, demonstrating that experiential risk education—engaging the five senses—enhances risk awareness beyond language and cultural barriers.

Q. Could you share a few success stories on how your VR technology has been used to improve safety, particularly in areas like disaster management or personal protection?

RiMM KYcontents.NET is a disaster reenactment video system that visualizes disasters. It serves as an educational tool that conveys the cause and circumstances of a disaster in just 20 seconds using only video. The system presents disasters in a way that does not disclose the location or individuals involved. By stylizing and simplifying disaster scenarios, it enhances comprehension and retention, making it easier for viewers to understand and remember the events. This approach enables effective communication of disaster information across different cultures.

The RiMM Mobile System is a five-sense VR experience that incorporates KYcontents.NET’s stylized video technology. By integrating proprietary experience devices with VR, it allows users to perceive a disaster through up to eight sensory inputs. This immersive experience enhances education by heightening people’s sensitivity to danger.

The RiMM Mobile Experience provides a safe way to encounter disaster scenarios in a virtual environment. Its deformation techniques minimize psychological distress, while adjustable negative stimulus settings ensure a safer and more controlled learning experience.

Additionally, by capturing manufacturing sites with a 360VR camera and converting them into VR using “360VRadvance,” the system enables hazard identification and evaluation directly at worksites. This practical approach enhances danger awareness and promotes effective risk prediction training.

Q. As RiMM continues to innovate in VR and human-centric technology, what exciting developments can we expect in the near future? Are there any new products or features on the horizon that will further enhance the sense of safety and well-being for users?

RiMM has provided society with over 750 disaster experience devices across eight countries. Over the past eight years, we have observed that negative experiences significantly enhance danger sensitivity. After experiencing the fear of a disaster, more than half of participants in every country respond with a smile. We believe this reaction stems from the joy of being alive after confronting a simulated disaster.

This understanding is rooted in biological science: when people experience fear, neurons in the brain are activated, and when they feel joy, new neurons are formed. We believe that engaging the five senses in disaster simulations elicits both fear and relief, ultimately heightening danger awareness.

Our development roadmap, refined over more than a decade, follows these key steps:

Step 1: “Learn skills through physical experience”

Step 2: “Enhance danger awareness through disaster simulations”

Step 3: “Promote proactive risk awareness through danger prediction”

These concepts have been successfully commercialized, and our next goal is to further strengthen people’s motivation for safety. We will continue our research and development, focusing on the impact of negative emotions and utilizing controlled negative stimuli to influence emotions, ultimately guiding people toward a heightened sense of safety and peace of mind. 

“We believe that experiencing a disaster through the five senses creates emotions of fear and joy, which increases danger sensitivity.”