Enjoy Learning Traditional Japanese Dance in VR
Start with a simple dance. This is the world’s first VR app that allows you to learn traditional Japanese dances naturally while gradually improving your skill and understanding of classical dance.
Developed in collaboration with a real master of traditional Japanese dance, bringing the authentic experience of classical performing arts into VR
This is an educational VR app that allows you to experience “Nihon Buyo”, a traditional Japanese performing art. It contains the first dance two dance lessons “Gion Kouta” and “Kiyari Kuzushi”. These are simple dances, and shown by both an avatar of our master of dance and a simplified puppet so that it is easy to understand the motion.
SENJU is developed jointly by Senju-ryu school of Japanese dance, and MARUI-PlugIn.
Please visit www.nihonbuyo.net for details.
Authentic "Nihon Buyo" Japanese Dance
Using VR equipment, you can enjoy practicing Japanese dance at home. We support almost all VR devices (Oculus, SteamVR, etc.). A virtual teacher will show you how to dance. The app checks your headset and controllers for the correct movement and uses hand gesture recognition artificial intelligence (patented) to confirm the user’s movement.
Experience, Practice, Entertainment
We plan to offer 3 modes in the SENJU VR app:
Experience Mode: Watch a master perform the dances and study the motions without pressure.
Practice Mode: Perform the dance yourself and get real-time feedback.
Performance Mode: Show off your skills on stage and share your performances on the internet.
Get early access to the prototype
The SENJU app is currently under development, but you can already get a beta version (prototype).
Buy the beta version now and receive all future updates for free. Buy now to support the future development of SENJU.
Motion recognition and confirmation by AI
The SENJU app uses artificial intelligence to recognize the user’s dance movements and give feedback and score points accordingly.
Screenshots
About Senju-Ryu School of Japanese Dance
Senju-Ryu school of traditional Japanese dance
Second generation head of shool
Einojo Senju
A Statement from Senju-sensei
„Japanese dance is an indispensable part of Japanese culture.By experiencing Japanese dance, you can acquire knowledge of Japanese traditional music (Shamisen, hand drum) and clothing which I feel is being neglected. I hope that this VR game will create more awareness of Japanese culture and that people – not only in Japan but around the world – will be more interested again in traditional Japanese arts. Please enjoy the SENJU-Japanese dance VR app. ”
About Einojo Senju:
Born in the city of Nara, south of Kyoto. From the age of 8, he began studying dance under the founder of Senju-ryu, Senju Wakanojo.
1993: Appointed as the successor of Senju-ryu and started teaching
1995: Chairman of the “Nara Prefecture Nihonbuyo Association”（Nara city Arts and Culture Association, now: Kansai Nihonbuyo Federation)
1999: Appointed as the second generation head of Senju-ryu, establishing Senju dance company.
2002～2009: Part-time professor at Osaka University of Health and Sports Sciences, Arts Department
2004: Senju-ryu dance performance at the National Bunraku Theater of Osaka
2006: Senju-ryu dance performance at the National Bunraku Theater of Osaka
2006: Founding of Nihon Buyo Senjukai Volunteer Club
2006: Senju-ryu dance performance at the National Bunraku Theater of Osaka
2009: Senju-ryu dance performance at the National Bunraku Theater of Osaka
2012: Founding of Senju-ryu Children’s Classroom
2016: Visiting professor at the Mindanao International University (Philippines)
2021: Hogaku no Izumi performance sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
2021: Hogaku no Izumi performance sponsored by Osaka City
Supported VR Devices
PC-based VR devices: all common VR devices which are connected via Oculus VR, Steam VR or OpenXR are supported.（HTC Vive, Vive Pro, Cosmos,
Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest (1 and 2, via Oculus Connect),
Windows MR (Dell, HP, etc)
Varjo, Pimax, Valve Index, etc）
Stand-alone VR headsets: Oculus Quest (both v1 and v2) are supported.
Financially supported by
Links
MARUI-PlugIn (inc)
When using PC-based VR headsets, you can purchase SENJU directly from the developer’s website.
Crowd Funding on Kickstarter
Supporters of our Kickstarter Campaing receive a free copy of SENJU.
Meta (Oculus) Quest Store
Users of the Meta Quest headset can purchase SENJU on the Quest Store.
Steam
Users of SteamVR compatible headsets can purchase SENJU on Steam.