​We are proud to have created this digital rendering of a ceremonial Katana sword made by the famous master Muramasa. It was covered in lacquer for a long time to prevent rusting, but the lacquer was removed and we could capture the sword the way it should look. This work was extremely challenging, as normal photogrammetry techniques do not work well with reflective objects, such as objects made from metal.

About the sword smith:

Sengo Muramasa (村正), born before 1501, was a famous Japanese swordsmith who founded the Muramasa school during the Muromachi period (14th to 16th centuries) in Ise Province, Japan (present-day Kuwana, Mie)[1][2]. The exact origin of the Muramasa school remains unknown, though the oldest existing sword with both Muramasa's name and a date is from 1501[1].
Muramasa's blades gained recognition for their incredible sharpness and efficiency in battle during Japan's Warring States Period, a particularly violent era[3]. His swords were highly sought after by samurai and warriors for their exceptional quality[2][4]. Notable samurai who carried Muramasa blades included Fukushima Masanori, one of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's generals, and the celebrated warrior Sanada Nobushige[4].
The Muramasa school spanned at least three generations, with the second-generation Muramasa considered the most skillful of the six successors[1][5]. Muramasa swords have distinctive features, including a unique "tanagobara" or "fish belly" shaped hilt with a rounded taper, and the swordsmith's name "Muramasa" (村正) engraved into the hilt[5].
Despite their original reputation as fine blades, Muramasa swords gradually developed a darker, more mystical reputation. In folklore and popular culture, they became known as "cursed" or "bloodthirsty" blades that were said to drive their bearers to violence[1][2][3]. One legend even claims that before a Muramasa blade could be returned to its scabbard, it had to draw blood—sometimes even that of its owner[3].
A famous legend pits Muramasa against Masamune, who is considered Japan's greatest swordsmith. In this tale, both placed their swords in a river, and while Muramasa's sword cut everything in its path—fish, leaves, and even the air—Musamune's blade only cut leaves. When Muramasa declared himself the winner, a monk intervened saying that Masamune's blade was superior because "it does not cut the innocent"[6].

Article in the Chunichi Shinbun news paper about the project.

​Citations:
[1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muramasa
[2] katana.store/blogs/katana-blog/muramasa
[3] youtube.com/watch?v=VHzFxHjLJbw
[4] mandarinmansion.com/glossary/muramasa
[5] soranews24.com/2021/10/23/genuine-murama...
[6] mai-ko.com/travel/japanese-history/museu...
[7] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masamune
[8] orientalsouls.com/blog/traditional-craft...

We are proud to announce that a major player in the Metaverse, has commissioned us HTC - a Taiwan-based electronics maker - to further expand and enrich our virtual Zen temple experience on their VR platform Viverse. We are hard at work creating the world, which will be accessible to VR headset users and PC users anywhere in the world. To promote our work, we are publishing a series of behind-the-scenes production videos. Here is the first - enjoy!
​

Link: The real world temple - Gyokuryu-ji - is located in Gifu Prefecture, Gero City. The temple is open to zen retreat visitors from around the world. To learn more, visit their landing page here: https://zenvacation-japan.carrd.co/.

We are honoured to have been selected as an exhibitor at this years Raindance Immersive festival. The festival is based in London, UK, but has a big online VR presence, including over 30 worlds.
The Mimir experience was built in collaboration with the Gyokuryu-ji Zen temple in Gero City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It includes three worlds, including a digital twin of the three main halls of the temple.

The temple (the Temple of the Jewel Dragon in direct translation) generously offered us the opportunity to capture the interior of the building using various techniques, such as photogrammetry and 3D modelling. One of the models displayed this time (pictured in the first slide here above) is a highly detailed carving by the famous monk Genshin (942 - 1017) who brought the artefact to Gifu to protect it from the violence in Kyoto at a time of civil war. The carving is highly unusual in the sense that the Buddha lets one of his legs dangle down; this is one of two such statues in Japan and is regarded as a national treasure-level piece.

We will provide on-demand presentations in the worlds, which are built on the ENGAGE social VR-platforms. The worlds will be open 24/7 during June and July, 2024.

We are running three live events during the festival; the first two, guided by Chief Priest Houkaku Sazaki, were highly successful. The third event will be timed for the North American public.

For more information, passwords, and registration, click here.
For a detailed self-guided tour, click here.

This is just a quick update about our latest work in the construction sector. We have finished an educational course in Arkio VR for beginners in the construction industry. This job was commissioned by one of the largest firms in the sector in this country.

We are currently working on 3D animation for another giant construction company. We are reconstructing accidents on the workplace to educate workers of the dangers and how to avoid them. We will deliver as videos; however, we expect further work including full VR experiences. We are currently looking for new partners to help create assets and animations under time pressure. The main work tool is Unreal Engine 5 both for videos and VR experiences.

​In an unprecedented feat of technological artistry, Mimir LLC has set a new benchmark in the realm of digital art preservation in Japan. Our latest project with the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, has opened a gateway to the future, merging the delicate beauty of ceramics with the infinite possibilities of digital technology. This endeavour involved meticulously capturing dozens of the museum's priceless ceramic pieces and transforming them into high-fidelity 3D models, viewable on the popular platform, Sketchfab.

Leveraging state-of-the-art techniques, including Physically Based Rendering (PBR), Mimir LLC has not only preserved these precious artifacts in digital form but also enhanced their viewing experience. Our commitment to excellence and innovation has resulted in models that come close to reality in their detail, offering an immersive experience that brings these ancient treasures into the hands of art enthusiasts worldwide. This initiative is more than just a project; it's a pioneering step towards safeguarding cultural heritage in the digital era.

By creating photorealistic 3D models of ancient ceramic pieces, Mimir LLC is not only preserving art but also making it accessible to a global audience. This digital transformation allows for an interactive and immersive exploration of these artifacts, offering a new perspective on the finest ceramic craftsmanship.

​Transitioning from physical to digital, the project undertaken by Mimir LLC is a game-changer in the field of art preservation. Each ceramic piece from the Gifu Prefecture Museum was carefully scanned and digitally reconstructed, ensuring that every curve, colour, and crack was captured with the utmost precision. This meticulous process has enabled the creation of a digital archive, safeguarding these treasures against the ravages of time.

​One crucial aspect of this work is the craftsmanship. The camera, while a very sophisticated piece of technology, has its limitations. It cannot capture materials like reflective metals, glass, or featureless surfaces such as white China very well. Mimir's designer spent countless hours hand-painting golden surfaces, for example. For some pieces, it could take up to a week to recreate every little golden surface on a piece by hand. While smartphones have advanced considerably and can now serve as 3D capture devices, they cannot replicate this artistic work.

​Sketchfab, a leading platform for 3D model sharing, has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition. The collaboration between Sketchfab and Mimir LLC showcases how technology can be harnessed to preserve and promote cultural heritage. Through Sketchfab, these digitised ceramic pieces are now available for public viewing, providing an unparalleled virtual experience.

​One of the standout features of Mimir LLC's approach is the use of Physically Based Rendering (PBR). This technique simulates the way light interacts with surfaces, resulting in incredibly realistic lighting and shadow effects on the 3D models. PBR has brought these ancient ceramics to life, showcasing their beauty in a whole new light.

We are pleased to announce that, after months of planning, the first reconstruction of a real-world Japanese Zen temple, the Gyokuryu-ji in Gero City, has been completed on the Engage Metaverse platform. The abbot will give talks on a wide range of cultural topics, and guests can also participate in Zen meditation sessions and enjoy a personal audience with the teacher. We have amassed a large collection of media that will be used to fully submerge guests in the realms of Zen and Japanese tradition. Information on how to get to the temple and when to go is provided here. The temple is also a demonstration of the world-building expertise we can bring to any Metaverse or 3D design project you may have.

We are pleased to announce that we have completed the virtual reconstruction of five rooms in the Daijuji Temple, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Visitors to the temple can don a Pico headset to enjoy a virtual tour of the rooms. This is the only way to experience the rooms decorated with their famous fusuma sliding door paintings.

This is not a simple 360 photosphere tour, but a full game with six degrees of freedom, meaning that the user can move his head and body inside the rooms just like in reality. It is possible to stand up and walk around in the rooms, but this is not allowed as a safety precaution. Nevertheless, this functionality allows for a far more realistic experience than simple photos. 

The game development was funded by Japan's Cultural Agency, and produced by Hitohata Inc. in Nagoya. A projection mapping experience was also produced as part of this project.

We put together a team to produce the game across borders, involving people in Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea and Hungary. You can see some of the experience in our show reel, here.

If you want to learn more about the experience or are interested in the possibilities for recreating and/or presenting cultural artefacts or other places of interest in the Metaverse, please feel free to contact us!

​Soukei Aoyama is an experimental archaeologist who has strived to recreate Muromachi era ceramics for decades. We captured this 15th century kiln reconstruction near completion in the hills of Onada, Tajimi. It’s the first attempt of its kind. In this kiln Aoyama will try to fire the famous Shiro Tenmoku (white tenmoku) bowls, that were treasured by the samurai and medieval high society of Japan. The master re-engineered the production method for the bowls from findings in this area.

Courtesy of The Society for Firing Pottery in the Kokeizan Forest, Kokeizan Choushingama Kiln.

View our MAKING OF YouTube video. Read our article about SHIRO TENMOKU. Learn more about the  KUSANOGASHIRAGAMA  kiln. View our SHIRO TENMOKU bowl model.

Mimir has just finish two significant projects, which we plan to announce in the coming days. We are also moving our English site to mimir.world. Stay tuned for updates!