A few days ago, I received a renewal notice for a patent I filed in 2016 and was granted in 2021.
It covers a neuro-wearable interface designed to sense emotional rhythms around the ear.
When I opened the envelope, one question quietly resurfaced:
“Why have I always cared so deeply about the inner state of the human mind?”
The Invisible Fatigue of Modern Life
Our lives are fast, noisy, and packed.
Stress today is quieter—more subtle—but deeply invasive.
And because it’s invisible, we overlook it.
I wondered:
Could technology gently reflect the emotional waves we can’t see?
The Concept Behind the Patent
The device visualized mental rhythms through light and micro-stimulation near the ear—
turning emotional signals into soft, perceivable feedback.
It was never about “gadgets.”
It was about empathy.
But Something Was Missing
I realized that technology alone cannot stabilize the human spirit.
And then, unexpectedly, I found the answer in culture.
The Turning Point
In a large tea exhibition overseas, I witnessed:
・People carefully selecting tea for family
・Ancient techniques beside modern aesthetics
・Utensils passed down like heirlooms
It was not efficiency that mattered.
It was ritual.
Tea was not just a beverage—it was a neuro-cultural interface.
Technology × Culture
Both are systems that shape:
・Attention
・Rhythm
・Self-awareness
One through data,
the other through time.
In that moment, the philosophy behind my invention and the philosophy behind tea connected.
Tea as a Technological Approach
While developing my neuro-wearable patent, I eventually found myself standing in front of a fundamental question:
“Are devices the only way to regulate the human mind?”
The answer was more complex.
Culture, ritual, aroma, temperature,
and even the slow choreography of making tea
are non-digital systems for emotional regulation.
To explore this intersection, I prototyped:
• a tea ceremony robot
• immersive tea-based VR experiences
• color-coded matcha blends inspired by neuro-states
In 2022, I showcased these explorations at CES—not as novelties, but as research-driven prototypes examining how ritual, technology, and culture converge to support the nervous system
This experience led me to a simple realization:
Tea is not an “old tradition.”
It is a sensorial interface for human rhythm.
Where neuro-wearables visualize emotional state,
tea rituals stabilize it from within.
Both approaches ask the same question from different angles:
How can we support the emotional rhythms of modern life?
What WACHA Creates
WACHA reimagines tea as:
・Color-based emotional cueing
・Mindful whisking
・Modern botanical blends
・A return to sensory presence
Together, they form a modern ritual we call Soulcare.
A Culture That Grounds the Mind
The question behind my patent remains:
“How can we return to ourselves?”
Through action. Through touch. Through quiet.
Looking Forward
Perhaps one day, technology will return and weave itself gently into culture again.
When that day comes, the soul may have more space to breathe.
Until then, WACHA offers a small, quiet doorway home.
Conclusion
WACHA is not a tea brand.
It is a cultural device for emotional restoration—
a modern redesign of a centuries-old ritual.
We invite you to discover a moment of stillness in every cup.
References
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[1] CES 2022 Showcase (Tea Ceremony Robot / Immersive Tea VR / Botanical Matcha Prototypes)
[2] Patent: Wearable Brainwave Visualization Device (Filed 2016, Granted 2021)
*These links are provided as supplemental references for readers interested in the historical and scientific context behind WACHA's philosophy.