Step into the refined world of traditional Japanese incense appreciation with this fragrant wood set from Kogado. Designed to recreate the atmosphere of an authentic Kikoukai (incense gathering), this collection centers on kan, meaning "sweetness," one of the five classic scent categories within the traditional Rikkoku Gomi system used to classify fine aromatic woods.
Unlike the competitive incense games of kumiko, or the formal gestures of incense ceremony, a Kikoukai gathering has no rules to win and no rituals to follow. It is simply a chance to sit with a single piece of wood, notice its scent, and compare it quietly with others. This set reproduces the very selection used at Kogado's own Kikoukai session held on April 27, 2022, themed entirely around the nuances of "sweet" fragrance.
Inside you will find six types of aromatic wood, two pieces of each, for twelve pieces in total. Each variety carries a poetic name suggesting the mood it evokes: Shinonome (daybreak) from Midori-abura Kyara, Yuzukuyo (moonlit evening) from Rakoku, Kumoi no Hana (flower among the clouds) from Manaka, Sono no Asakaze (morning breeze in the garden) from Manaban, and Sakurairo (cherry blossom hue) from Sasora. Since the pieces are meant for one-stick appreciation rather than formal incense games, they are not cut to a precise 4mm square, letting each retain its natural form.
The set arrives new, without a fire starter, and comes packaged in a traditional paper wrapper (tatamigami) measuring roughly 192 x 160 x 23mm. The size and color of the wrapper may vary slightly depending on the type and quantity of wood inside. Please note that only one set is available per person; any additional purchases beyond this limit will be canceled.
For those curious about the gathering itself, Kogado has archived the original "sweetness" session online, offering a glimpse into the quiet, contemplative world this fragrant wood set was created to share.
A fragrant wood set themed around “sweetness,” one of the Rokukoku Gomi (Six Countries, Five Flavors) classifications. Includes 12 pieces total, with two pieces each of six varieties, the same types used at the April 27, 2022 Kōkōkai fragrance-listening gathering, “Gomi no Kai: Sweet.”
Included fragrant woods: Ryokuyu Kyara, Shinonome Rakoku, Yūzukuyo Manaka, Kumoi no Hana Manaban, Sono no Asakaze Sasora, Sakura-iro
Prepared for individual listening rather than kumikō, so the pieces are not cut to an exact 4 mm square size. Package size: 192 × 160 × 23 mm, in folded paper wrapping.
