Kōboku Incense Wood Set for Monkō Ceremony – Comparing Different Spicy Scents

Step into the refined world of traditional Japanese incense appreciation with this curated fragrant wood set from Kogado. Designed to recreate an authentic Monkoukai incense gathering, the collection focuses on kara (pungent spice), one of the five classic taste categories in the traditional rokkoku gomi classification system for aromatic woods.

The set contains six selections of rare aromatic wood, two pieces each, for twelve pieces total to sample and compare. These are the very same woods used in Kogado's August 2022 gathering themed around the kara profile, so you can experience that session's atmosphere at home, at your own pace.

A Monkoukai is a relaxed study session where participants simply focus on noticing and understanding the differences between raw aromatic woods. Unlike the competitive incense games known as kumiko, there are no rules to master and no formal etiquette to follow: just the pleasure of comparing scents.

Inside the package you will find yellow kyara ("Wind's Plum Fragrance"), rakoku ("Grass Among the Snow"), manaban ("Moon Over the Thin Reeds"), sumondara jinko ("Thin Robe"), and sasora jinko ("Spring Evening"), each named with its own poetic title. Because these pieces are meant for simple, individual scenting rather than formal incense games, they are left in their natural form rather than cut into the strict 4mm squares used for competitive play.

The full collection arrives neatly wrapped in a traditional tatoshi paper package measuring 192mm x 160mm x 23mm.