#japanese incense

[tenjin-no-shinja]

This past weekend was the Japan Fesival! Which is always a fun event to witness. And is a great way for me to get a bit of the matsuri vibes :)

Every year they always have mikoshi that they tote around the festival at the end of each day. This year they also had a model of a shrine too that was made by the students who help run the event.

Another thing they do is workshops. I attended a workshop on Kōdō, which is the meditative practice around Japanese incense. It was partially sponsored by Shoyeido, a really famous Japanese incense company. They had a fun game at the end where we had to guess if two pots of incense were the same or different. And at the end we all received samplers. I also went and bought a premium sampler pack, and chatted with the vendor quite a bit, and he gave me a second free sampler pack. It was very nice of him.

I also attended a Shogi workshop. Shogi is the Japanese form of chess. It has a long history with the samurai class. Hatomori Hachimangū actually has a hall dedicated to Shogi with a massive Shogi piece that was donated there.

But I ended up playing with another beginner and won :D which was fun.

The final workshop I sat in on was the Karuta workshop. I attend every year because the runner also holds a kimono meetup after it. It's such a neat game and one day I hope to actually be able to play it decently.

More to follow :D

A picture of the kimono I wore on the second day, which also got me many compliments.

[pingozillar]

Yugen(又玄) 100g can 2,500THB, ceremonial grade matcha รู้สึกว่าดื่มมัทฉะคลอกับธูปหอมกลิ่นวานิลลา ชามันหวานขึ้นนะ! คิดว่าไม่ได้มโนไปเอง

[kyotokimono]

Genji-Ko

An incense guessing game, in which participants determine which of five prepared censers contain different scents, and which contain the same scent. Answers are recorded using genji-mon linear patterns, alluding to chapters in the Tale of Genji.

Here at Kyoto Kimono, we find these patterns on vintage Japanese kimono, haori, and/or obi belt fabrics.  An interesting bit of Japanese culture! 

Click here to read more about this game and Japanese incense.

[pingozillar]

เซนฉะรสนุ่ม กลิ่นกรุ่นไม้จันทน์ ดนตรีสายฝน สวรรค์รำไร

[pingozillar]

มัทฉะกับธูปหอมญี่ปุ่นเป็นอะไรที่เข้ากันมาก ^~^

[coridallasmultipass]

Japanese incense (coreless incense) haul from Kikoh Incense!! (And book I'm pairing with it lol.)

I knew I HAD to get Japanese incense to 'listen' to while I continue reading The Tale of Genji. Coincidentally, there was a Genji themed incense!! I was a little nervous, because I'm not big on sandalwood. However, I did notice recently (after a mishap where I mixed up the names of sandalwood and palo santo - I like palo santo, but not sandalwood), that I can now detect/identify hints of sandalwood in the background of some scents that I DO enjoy, and it doesn't bother me as much as sandalwood-dominant scents (like the nag champa incense my mom likes, bluhh). So I figured it was worth a shot to try, especially when I can't stop thinking about wanting to try these.

Left to right:

Kikujudo "Genji no Maki - Reiko Jinkō" (this is the aloeswood/jinkō dominant blend ['agarwood', also smelled in 'oud'] of this brand's three Genji themed incenses (since I'm too chicken to try the other two that were either evenly balanced or sandalwood dominant); key notes are aloeswood, sandalwood, and cinnamon). This smells SO FREAKING GOOD IN THE BOX, I had to try one as soon as I got back from an appointment. I had no idea incense could smell this good, let alone one with a noticable sandalwood background note. ((I'm usually ride or die for dragon's blood incense only lol.)) I'm gonna have to burn more to even think about how to describe this one though. Maybe sweet and warm spicy with a hint of something tart, and a subtly masculine smooth sandalwood underneath it all? It also didn't smoke out my room either, which is nice. (I usually have to get a strong cross-breeze going for regular incense sticks, or burn it outside.)

Baikundo - "Byukushin Juniper" (key notes: natural cypress, and other natural aromatics). This smells very woodsy and comforting in the box! Not as fresh as juniper greenery/berries, this is more of the juniper wood (woops on my part for not realizing this was going to be more of the wood smell, but I like juniper all the same). Haven't tried it yet, as my room still has the first incense in the air.

Daihatsu - "Hinoki no Kaori" (key notes: Japanese cypress/hinoki). As the name suggests, it has a floral tone to it, which also smells REALLY great in the box. ((I realize that I bought two cypress plant family based incenses with this order - it is by choice. I really like that plant/wood type scent profile [red wood especially since that's the wood in my house and outdoor deck, the scent of sequoias, etc; it is a safe choice for me to pick]. This one is also very different from the Baikundo one, just based on how it smells in the box.))

Sample tube: Baiedo - "Tokusen Kobunboku" (key notes: aloeswood, sandalwood, other spices). I can't quite smell enough of it in the tube, but after smelling the other ones, I am very excited to try it.

As for the seller, Kikoh Incense, the order was packaged very neatly, and they have a huge selection available for US buyers on their site, with a broad price range. I'll definitely look to order more after I've had my fill of these ones.

[satorinsincense]

Satorins Ancient Asian Incense sets Incense burner Incense seal Incense stamp

Find Japanese and Chinese incense with bronze and brass burner options. Shop incense stamps, powder incense burner kits, and more. Free worl

Japanese Incense

Find Japanese and Chinese incense with bronze and brass burner options. Shop incense stamps, powder incense burner kits, and more. Free worldwide shipping.

[starsinmypocketpussy]

had a package come all the way from California, make it Toledo then somehow bypass Detroit (its intended destination) to hop the border into Canada and now it is trapped forever in a secure facility in another country