This cultural photograph introduces Japanese incense sticks. It does not show an Awaji Island workshop, 薫寿堂 products or items sold by our store. Photograph: Jun OHWADA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Cropped to fit the display.
Open a window a little, set out a vessel and give your attention to fragrance for a short while. Japanese incense is enjoyed in everyday life as well as in special ceremonies. Tracing its background brings us to the craft traditions of Awaji Island in the Seto Inland Sea.
A record of fragrant wood and an island's incense-making tradition
An account often mentioned in the history of fragrance in Japan appears in the Nihon Shoki: fragrant wood washed ashore in 595. It is said that burning the wood that had reached Awaji Island released a beautiful scent. This ancient account, however, needs to be considered separately from the beginnings of the incense industry that continues today.
According to Hyogo Prefecture's materials, incense-stick making began in Ei, Awaji City, around 1850. Techniques brought from Sakai in the Senshu region developed in this port community, where the climate and breezes suited drying. Materials transported across the sea and skills in blending and shaping accumulated on the island have together supported one of Awaji's representative industries.
The skill within an incense stick
Some incense sticks are made by blending fragrant woods and other aromatic ingredients, kneading them with a base material, shaping them into slender forms and drying them. The ingredients, proportions and shape affect the fragrance, smoke and way the incense burns. Within the single phrase “Japanese incense” is a wide range of expression, from quiet woody scents to those that suggest flowers or citrus.
When choosing your first stick, think about the size of the room and how easily it can be ventilated, as well as your impression of the scent. Rather than aiming for a strong fragrance, start with a small amount and find a level that is comfortable for you and others sharing the room. This makes incense easier to fit into daily life. Incense does not promise treatment or physical health effects.
Washi incense: another form
Awaji Island's 薫寿堂 makes incense using washi paper as well as traditional incense sticks. For example, WASHI INCENSE comes in thin paper strips, while HA KO is washi incense shaped like leaves. The lightness of paper meets fragrance, creating new pleasures in both appearance and handling.
Washi incense cannot all be burned in the same way. Some products use a clip; others are placed on a dedicated mat. Always follow the instructions for the product you purchased, including its burning time. Avoid substituting ordinary paper or cloth for an incense mat.
Choosing holders and dishes for safety
Stabilise stick incense in a holder that fits its thickness, and pair it with a non-combustible incense dish large enough to catch falling ash. A small holder does not necessarily mean a small area of falling ash. Before use, check that the burning part cannot touch the vessel or nearby objects, and that the incense cannot tip over.
Keep curtains, paper and other flammable materials away, and avoid places where wind could scatter ash. Never leave burning incense unattended, and make sure it is fully extinguished before going to sleep. Use it out of the reach of children and pets, and do not touch the incense dish after use until it has cooled. If the smoke or fragrance feels unpleasant, stop using it and ventilate the room.
A small moment of fragrance in daily life
You do not need to turn a room into a Japanese-style interior to enjoy incense. Make a little space for fragrance and a vessel at the edge of a cleared desk or in a corner where you pause for a break. Even this can draw attention to how you see familiar things and spend your time. Bring the fragrances of Awaji Island into your life in an amount and a manner that feel manageable.
参考資料：兵庫県「線香」、薫寿堂「お香・お線香について」、薫寿堂「WASHI INCENSE」、HA KO公式サイト、消費者庁「線香等でのやけどに注意！」