Sen

Sen is based on the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The user is immersed in the traditional Japanese ritual, holding a black Raku tea bowl in the tea house called Tai-an, both national treasures of Japan. In the dimly lit room, the user encounters Sen, the spirit of tea born from the tea cup and unrevealing its relationship with the world as such. It is afraid to learn about the world but gradually finds joy in its existence through interacting with the environment and other similar beings. They find comfort in their connection and interaction and start to think about their relationship with others in a self-centred way. One day, their peaceful world is suddenly destroyed by an inferno. Having lost everything, Sen falls back into the tea bowl and dissolves into particles wandering in the universe. Like Sen, the users realise they are one with all beings in this world and are whisked back to the tea house Tai-an, where their nonchalant lives begin again.

I wanted to create an experience based on the traditional Japanese culture of the tea ceremony to look deeply into oneself through XR. Sen (one thousand) represents a very large number, infinity. I have come to believe that we, the life forms on earth, are as pale as particles dissolving in an infinite universe and exist for the time of a heartbeat. In this story, the user meets Sen, an incarnation of tea, born into the world from a Chawan device held in both hands. For the first time in his life, he encounters and interacts with nature and others. He experiences the joys of life and a great deal of suffering. His “life” is no different from ours. He is us.
Please experience the warmth of Chawan’s heartbeat and the warmth of his hands, and experience the connection with others. And in the deep darkness, look at your own “life”.

PRODUCTION 1: Katsutoshi Machiba - CinemaLeap Inc.
Maruki Building 503, 1-13-7 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku
141-0031 – Tokyo, Japan
Tel. +81 9024827176
katsutoshi.machiba@cinemaleap.com
http://www.cinemaleap.com

PRODUCTION 2: Katsutoshi Machiba - STYLY
Moriaura 2F, 1-34-2 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
160-0022 – Tokyo, Japan
Tel. +81 363805639
Mob. +81 9024827176
info@psychich-vr-lab.com
http://psychic-vr-lab.com