Cross Fields, one of the partner organizations of the Inochi Forum, is a nonprofit organization founded in Japan in 2011 with the mission of “increasing the number of people who internalize social issues as their own.” Since then, the organization has delivered transformative experiences to over 3,000 business professionals through programs such as the Corporate Cross-Cultural Work Program and Field Study Programs on Social Issues, providing direct exposure to the realities of social challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cross Fields pivoted to digitalization and, since 2020, has launched the Empathy VR initiative, offering simulated experiences of social issues using VR and 360-degree video technology. This initiative has been primarily deployed in educational settings and corporate training programs, providing diverse audiences with opportunities to connect with the realities of social issues.

Participants experiencing the Empathy VR programme

In the field of education, Cross Fields has developed and delivered educational content for junior and senior high school students across Japan. They have created ten inquiry-based learning modules covering topics such as “Poverty in Cambodia” and “Energy Issues in Tanzania,” making these materials freely available to teachers nationwide. These virtual experiences allow students to engage with realities they cannot easily access in person. Within two years of launch, approximately 1,500 students from around 20 schools have participated. Teachers have reported positive feedback, including comments like: “Students discovered new research topics through the classes.”

In recent years, collaboration with corporations has also accelerated. Specifically, Cross Fields has developed and provided Empathy VR programs aligned with each company’s materiality—namely, issues of particular importance to the company and its stakeholders. By helping employees internalize social issues, the programs support the advancement of sustainability management within corporations.

To date, Cross Fields has collaborated with about 15 companies and delivered programs to over 10,000 employees. Business professionals who have experienced the programs have shared feedback such as: “I realized the necessity of addressing both profitability and societal sustainability.”

Building on these achievements, Cross Fields aims to further develop the Empathy VR initiative by 2030, striving to create a world where social issues are continuously addressed. They plan to scale these activities globally, providing opportunities for people around the world to internalize social challenges and inspiring action.

While it may be difficult to completely eradicate social issues as long as humanity exists, it is possible to create a world where, whenever social issues arise, individuals who are motivated to solve them also emerge, taking meaningful action toward resolution. The Inochi Forum shares this belief and will work with organizations like Cross Fields that leverage technology, offering many people the opportunity to internalize social issues as their own.

[References]

・Example of Empathy VR use in public schools, available for free via the STEAM Library:

https://www.crossfields.jp/pressrelease/steam-library

・Development of 360-degree experiential sustainability program for Mitsui & Co.:

https://www.crossfields.jp/pressrelease/mitsui-program

・Launch of Empathy VR (interactive e-learning) for promoting corporate sustainability management:

https://www.crossfields.jp/pressrelease/vr-e-learning

[Action Platform]
SDGs+Beyond

[SDGs]