「花街文化」VR体験を世界へ発信！

VR GEISHA GAMES

Since long ago, geigis have symbolized the Japanese tradition and spirit of hospitality, kown as so-called “GEISHA” among people in other countries.

They have continued traditional performances like dances and songs to welcome visitors with their beautiful, sofisticated behaviors. The number of geigis is however reducing with the changing times, which risks the succession of the tradition and culture.
Furthermore, the geisha districts that have developed together with geigis, comprising tea-ceremony rooms and lodging houses for geigis, have a problem to maintain the scenery.

“VR GEISHA GAMES” are aimed to spotlight the tradition and spirit of hospitality in each region across Japan, which have been continued by the geigis in their districts. At the same time, the games provide new entertainments with digital technologies to contribute to promotion and decentralization of local tourism demands.

VR GAME “Taruken” with Furumachi Geigi

◆Furumachi Geigi

For the first game of the “VR GEISHA GAMES” series, we collaborate with Furumachi Geigis from Niigata Prefecture.

Niigata Furumachi is one of the geisha districts like Gion in Kyoto and Shinbashi in Tokyo, where there were about 400 geigis at its peak. The number of geigis is however reducing with the changing times. In order to preserve such local traditions that have continued for more than 200 years since the Edo period, there are efforts e.g. employing geigis at joint-stock companies for the first time in Japan.

◆Taruken

“Taruken” is a Japanese-style game representing the traditional Furumachi Geigi culture.

The rule of this game is so simple: play rock-paper-scissors with a geigi – hitting a barrel with a drumstick to the sound of a shamisen – and if you lose, spin around on the spot.

We have released this “Taruken” as a VR game, which is harder than it seems. In the VR space, you can enjoy communicating with geigis and experience the traditional culture.

◆Taruken at SXSW SYDNEY 2023

At “SXSW SYDNEY 2023”, the first game of the VR GEISHA GAMES series makes its debut.Furumachi Geigis from the quaint geisha district will fascinate all the world.

・3D avatars of Furumachi Geigis
We have created 3D avatars based on real Furumachi Geigis.
When the visitors put on the VR goggle, they find themselves in a Japanese tatami room in the VR space.
A Geigi avatar is right in front of them.

・The experience of “Taruken”, a Japanese-style game from Niigata
The visitors at SXSW SYDNEY can communicate with real Geigis in Niigata via the VR space. In addition to the “Taruken” game, they have also opportunities to enjoy talking with Geigis using a voice-recognition translating and subtitling system.

SXSW Sydney (South by Southwest Sydney）

◆The world’s leading technology expo is going to be held – outside the United States for the first time

It is one of the world’s largest convergence conferences & festivals, in Austin, Texas, since 1987.
In 2007, Twitter won the grand prize at the SXSW Web Awards and made a big hit. Since then, it has been known as an event to inform of the up-to-date technology trends. In 2019, a total of 417,400 people from 106 countries visited Austin, making the event a driving force not only in technology but also in culture and entertainment trends.
This year, SXSW is going to be held in Sydney, Australia, outside the United States for the first time.
The program is organized based on the four themes Tech & Innovation / Games / Music / Screen, bringing thinkers, creators and innovators all over the world together to the southern hemisphere. It also assembles outstanding creative industries in the Asia-Pacific regions, transcending the boundaries of technological innovation, games, music, videos and cultures.