Sen: A VR Take on Ichigo Ichie and the Japanese Tea Ceremony

When you think of the tea ceremony, what comes to mind? Honestly, my mind goes blank. Sure, I've heard of the phrase "Ichigo Ichie," but for some reason, it feels as distant to me as "Isshōkenmei," both of which are often seen as powerful calligraphy phrases hanging on walls.

So, I decided to look up the origin of "Ichigo Ichie." This phrase, almost synonymous with the tea ceremony, comes from a saying by Sen no Rikyū. But remember, Sen no Rikyū lived in the 16th century. Even though he's revered as the "Tea Saint," and the way of tea hasn't faded, times have changed. Can we reinterpret "Ichigo Ichie" using immersive storytelling to give it a modern meaning?

I believe that's the concept that the immersive interactive experience "Sen" aims to convey.

The Modern Meaning of "Ichigo Ichie"

As I pull back the curtain, I see a small room. A few tatami mats form a dimly lit tea room. There isn't much inside— just three cushions on the tatami, three VIVE Pro 2 headsets, three Pixel Watches, and three tea bowls equipped with VIVE trackers. It's almost as if this experience was tailor-made for the three of us at XR Dreamland.

Gladys quickly adapts, kneeling comfortably on the cushion, while Oren and I exchange glances, hesitating for a few seconds before giving in to our stiff joints and sitting cross-legged.

We put on the watches and headsets, holding the tea bowls in our hands, inhaling the scent of rush grass, and enjoying a moment of tranquility in the tea room.

"From the moment you enter the alley to the moment you leave, treat the host with utmost respect and reverence, as if it is a once-in-a-lifetime meeting. Idle chatter and worldly gossip are unnecessary." This principle, articulated by Sen no Rikyū, is the origin of "Ichigo Ichie."

"Ichigo Ichie" means "a once-in-a-lifetime gathering." While I can understand this as a solemn ritual, I'm still surprised by its intensity. Isn't tea supposed to be relaxing? Why so serious?

"In Rikyū's era, the tea ceremony was a pastime for men. During the Sengoku period, men faced the constant threat of dying in battle, yet they still had the courage to hold tea gatherings in their daily lives. It was likely because they naturally embodied the spirit of Ichigo Ichie. Nowadays, we can intellectually understand the meaning of Ichigo Ichie, but we lack a profound realization of it. Thanks to the blessings of modern civilization, we no longer live with the constant awareness of mortality." While reading Sen no Rikyū: The Silent Avant-Garde, the author Akasegawa Genpei answered my question.

It's important to understand that this tea master served both Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and even Tokugawa Ieyasu pleaded for his life when Hideyoshi ordered Rikyū to commit seppuku. This not only shows Rikyū's status but also highlights how popular tea gatherings were during Japan's Warring States period.

Today, people still mention "Ichigo Ichie" when drinking tea, but its meaning has changed completely from Rikyū's time. "If I die, tea will be abandoned." No wonder the founder of the tea ceremony would make such bold statements. So, how can we give "Ichigo Ichie" a new meaning without straying from Rikyū's philosophy?

The Impermanence of Life is the Only Constant

In the tea room, a green light flickers in the darkness, and the tea spirit "Sen" is born from our heartbeats, emerging from the tea bowls in our hands, connecting, intertwining, and wrapping around each other.

Director Keisuke Itoh gave this "beginning" a wonderful explanation: "Heartbeat is a fundamental part of who we are—something we can’t hide. No matter our race, language, or background, the rhythm of our heartbeats is something we all share. By incorporating this rhythm into the project, I believe it helps participants connect more deeply and experience a form of communication that transcends words."

Director Keisuke Itoh (left) and producer Katsutoshi Machiba (right) of "Sen."

The tea spirit, born from our pulse rhythms monitored by the Pixel Watch, gently drives the change of seasons. This tea gathering, which I, Gladys, and Oren attended, was made possible by the VIVE Tracker 3.0, enabling the tracking of the tea bowls and creating a sense of "co-presence."

Mr. Itoh mentioned that the design inspiration for the tea spirit came from a "fetus." "The thread connecting the tea bowl symbolizing an umbilical cord. We focus our attention on the pulsating tea bowl, but our minds wander freely—sometimes rejoicing in nature, other times feeling sadness—traveling unpredictably. It is precisely in the way the heart does not move as we expect that I believe we find the joy of life. I believe each of us carries our own Sen within." It has a very Shinto-like "animism" feel.

The spirit "Sen," nurtured from the tea bowl, cares for the tea seedlings growing in spring, tending to each leaf as if under its care, the tea leaves will exude a fresh aroma. In the scorching summer, "Sen" shields the tea trees from the sun, helping them thrive. In autumn, "Sen" leads us out of the tea room to enjoy the maple leaves, with the red autumn hues symbolizing a bountiful harvest. Winter is the perfect season for tea, brewing a pot where every sip is a warm embrace.

The spirit "Sen" tending to the tea trees. (Source: KFF)

"The passage of time, the changing of seasons, and the journey of tea leaves from growth to brewing and consumption are all integral to this flow. Through tea, I aimed to design an experience that allows participants to feel the flow of nature and connect with its cycle," Mr. Itoh explained.

The fusion of tradition and innovation is so intriguing that I can't help but wonder, besides smartwatches and VR trackers, what other technologies were used to combine the tea ceremony with immersive storytelling?

"In Sen, we use traditional kuro-raku tea bowls," Mr. Itoh said, and producer Katsutoshi Machiba added, "To realize that very idea, we 3D scan actual tea bowls. Authentic tea bowls are extremely precious, with some in Japan said to be worth hundreds of millions of yen. I want users to feel the significance of holding a valuable tea bowl from 400 years ago."

The black Raku tea bowl, used by Sen no Rikyū, has a slightly uneven shape, fitting comfortably in the palm.

In the film Rikyu directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara, there is a conversation between Sen no Rikyu and Tokugawa Ieyasu:

Rikyu: "May I ask, my lord, what is life?"
Ieyasu: "Life is the ability to embrace the arrival of tomorrow."
Rikyu: "I design every tearoom as if it were the last in my life. Yet, looking around now, it seems there are still too many unnecessary things."
Ieyasu: "How can anything truly end? An end is merely a new beginning."

At the end of "Sen," we are surrounded by concentric ripples of a black-and-white Zen garden, feeling the beauty of wabi-sabi in the garden. The tea trees grow stronger through the changing seasons, and every moment of life, like the ripples, fades with time, yet new life is born with each ripple.

Impermanence is the only constant in life. The virtual tea gathering is a dialogue with 400 years of tea ceremony, and through immersive storytelling, "Ichigo Ichie" gains a deeper expression. Whether in the Warring States period or the comfortable modern society, the tea universe has always carried the weight of life, telling stories of change, imperfection, and the impermanence of life.

I think if Sen no Rikyū saw "Sen," he would feel comforted.