Tokyo: Sen Genshitsu, a would-be kamikaze pilot who became a Japanese tea ceremony master preparing cups of matcha for world leaders and monarchs, died aged 102 on Thursday, reports said.

With a motto of “peacefulness through a bowl of tea”, Kyoto-born Sen used ancient “Urasenke” tea tradition rituals to spotlight his anti-war messages.

The United Nations headquarters in New York and the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii — the scene of a devastating Japanese attack that brought the US into World War II — were among the locations for his ceremonies.

This file photo taken on April 15, 2013 shows Myanmar’s democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (R) receiving a bowl of green tea from Japanese tea master Genshitsu Sen (L) at a tea ceremony in Kyoto, western Japan. Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP

His death was reported by major Japanese media, including the national broadcaster NHK and the top-selling newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.

AFP could not immediately reach the Urasenke school for comment.

Born in 1923, Sen went through training as a young man to become a kamikaze pilot in World War II, but the fighting ended before he had to carry out a suicidal mission.

He later told how he used to serve tea to his fellow soldiers during military training.

In a 2023 interview with NHK, Sen stressed the calming effects of tea culture.

“A bowl of tea makes spirits very peaceful. When everyone is peaceful, there will be no war,” he said.

An ordained Zen monk, Sen became the 15th-generation grand master of the Urasenke school in 1964 following the death of his father who had previously headed the tradition.

He offered tea to monarchs and presidents including Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and counted the former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger and former Chinese president Hu Jintao as friends.

He said that his wartime experience had helped shape his views on the importance of peace.

In 1997, he received the Order of Culture in Japan and in 2020, he was given the Legion of Honour, France’s most prestigious order of merit.

He retired in 2002 as the head of the tea school, passing it to his son, but he remained active up until his death.

Even after he turned 102 in April, he held more than 100 cultural and government advisory positions and gave speeches, including some lasting more than an hour, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.

He also worked as a goodwill ambassador for the UN cultural and education agency, UNESCO.

He was known as “Flying Grand Master” for his busy travel schedules.

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Trending Insights on Multivitamin Gummies: Latest News and Developments

• In July 2025, Plix, a well-known worldwide direct-to-consumer brand for plant-based nutrition and personal care, announced its foray into the children’s market with the launch of Plix Kids, a specific line of safe, plant-based food and mild personal care items for children ages 2 to 12 that are intended to simplify and secure everyday health. The company provides refined sugar-free solutions in protein powders, gummies, and fizzies that are simple to mix and free of dangerous ingredients and maltodextrin.
• In July 2025, the gummy multivitamin One A Day® Kids Multi with Iron, which contains 12 mg of iron per serving, was introduced by One A Day®, a multivitamin and supplement company by Bayer Corporation. 
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Case Study on Cost Model of Multivitamin Gummies Manufacturing Plant 

One of our clients reached out to us to conduct a feasibility study for setting up a large-scale multivitamin gummies manufacturing plant. We developed a comprehensive financial model for the setup and operation of a proposed multivitamin gummies manufacturing plant in Tehran, Iran. This plant is designed to produce 11,667 kg of multivitamin gummies per day.

Manufacturing Process: Manufacturing multivitamin gummies entails a series of accurate steps for quality and uniformity. To begin with, good-quality raw materials like gelatin, sugar, corn syrup, flavorings, colorants, and acidulants are sourced and transported to the mixing and weighing tanks. In these tanks, some of the raw materials such as glucose syrup, citric acid, starch, and food coloring are weighed and mixed into a uniform blend. This blend is subsequently heated under stirred blending tanks to melt sugar and gelatin under temperature control to retain nutrient activity. The heated gummy solution is poured into molds of selected forms under sanitary conditions, followed by chilling tunnels to set. On setting, gummies are dried at approximately 25 ± 2 °C for desired texture and demolded. They can be sprayed with sugar or oil for added appearance and texture prior to packaging. Lastly, the gummies are subjected to intense quality control tests and are safely packaged for distribution to distributors or retailers. This efficient but highly regulated process guarantees consistent, safe, and attractive multivitamin gummies to the market.

Mass Balance and Raw Material Required: The primary raw materials used in the multivitamin gummies manufacturing plant include gelatin, sugar, glucose syrup, vitamin premix, flavoring agents, coloring agents, citric acid, starch and oil. For a plant producing 1 kg of multivitamin gummies, 0.108 kg of gelatin, 0.497 kg of sugar, 0.338 kg of glucose syrup, 0.045 kg of vitamin premix,0.008 kg of flavoring agents, 0.004 kg of coloring agents, 0.010 kg of citric acid, 0.015 kg of starch and 0.004 kg of oil are required.

Types of Machinery:

• 600L Sugar dissolving cooker
• Rotary pump
• 300L Gelatin melting tank
• Rotary pump
• 800L High speed mixing tank
• Rotary pump
• 800L Storage tank
• Rotary pump
• Continuous vacuum cooker
• Rotary pump
• Dynamic auxiliary material mixer
• Liquid auxiliary material tank
• Liquid auxiliary material pump
• Double heads depositing machine
• Automatic oil spray system
• Extended and reinforced automatic cooling tunnel
• Isolation syrup delivery pipes
• 3D long mold
• Demolding system
• Touch screen stainless steel electrical control cabinet
• Automatic feeding and weighing system
• Drying plates
• Trolley
• Sugar sanding machine (Enlarged)
• Oil coating machine (Enlarged)
• Oil removing machine (Enlarged)
• CIP automatic cleaning system
• Bottle automatic packaging machine
• Clean Room Facility

Techno-Commercial Parameter:

• Capital Investment (CapEx): Capital expenditure (CapEx) in a manufacturing plant includes various investments essential for its setup and long-term operations. It covers machinery and equipment costs, including procurement, installation, and commissioning. Civil works expenses involve land development, factory construction, and infrastructure setup. Utilities such as power, water supply, and HVAC systems are also significant. Additionally, material handling systems, automation, environmental compliance, and safety measures are key components. Other expenditures include IT infrastructure, security systems, and office essentials, ensuring operational efficiency and business growth.
• Operating Expenditure (OpEx): Operating expenditure is the cost incurred to operate a manufacturing plant effectively. Opex in a manufacturing plant typically includes the cost of raw materials, utilities, depreciation, taxes, packing cost, transportation cost, and repairs and maintenance. The operating expenses are part of the cost structure of a manufacturing plant and have a significant effect on profitability and efficiency. Effective control of these costs is necessary for maintaining competitiveness and growth.

• Profitability Analysis Year on Year Basis: The proposed multivitamin gummies plant, with a capacity of 11,667 kg of multivitamin gummies per day, achieved an impressive revenue of US$ 8.2 million in its first year. We assisted our client in developing a detailed cost model, which projects steady growth, with revenue rising throughout the projected period. Moreover, gross profit margins improve from 9.5% to 9.8% by year 5, and net profit rises from 6.2% to 6.8%, highlighting strong financial viability and profitability.  

Conclusion:

Our financial model for the multivitamin gummies manufacturing plant was meticulously developed to meet the client’s objectives, providing an in-depth analysis of production costs, including raw materials, manufacturing, capital expenditure, and operational expenses. By addressing the specific requirements of producing 11,667 kg of multivitamin gummies per day, we successfully identified key cost drivers and projected profitability, considering market trends, inflation, and potential fluctuations in raw material prices. This comprehensive financial model equipped the client with valuable insights into strategic decision-making, demonstrating our commitment to delivering high-quality, client-focused solutions that ensure the long-term success of large-scale manufacturing ventures.

IMARC’s Financial Model Expertise: Helping Our Clients Explore Industry Economics

IMARC is a global market research company that offers a wide range of services, including market entry and expansion, market entry and opportunity assessment, competitive intelligence and benchmarking, procurement research, pricing and cost research, regulatory approvals and licensing, factory setup, factory auditing, company incorporation, incubation services, recruitment services, and marketing and sales.

Under our factory setup services, we assist our clients in exploring the feasibility of their plants by providing comprehensive financial modeling. Additionally, we offer end-to-end consultation for setting up a plant in India or abroad. Our financial modeling includes an analysis of capital expenditure (CapEx) required to establish the manufacturing facility, covering costs such as land acquisition, building infrastructure, purchasing high-tech production equipment, and installation. Furthermore, the layout and design of the factory significantly influence operational efficiency, energy consumption, and labor productivity, all of which impact long-term operational expenditure (OpEx). So, every parameter is covered in the analysis.

At IMARC, we leverage our comprehensive market research expertise to support companies in every aspect of their business journey, from market entry and expansion to operational efficiency and innovation. By integrating our factory setup services with our deep knowledge of industry dynamics, we empower our clients to not only establish manufacturing facilities but also strategically position themselves in highly competitive markets. Our financial modeling and end-to-end consultation services ensure that clients can explore the feasibility of their plant setups while also gaining insights into competitors’ strategies, technological advancements, and regulatory landscapes. This holistic approach enables our clients to make informed decisions, optimize their operations, and align with sustainable practices, ultimately driving long-term success and growth.