Image: Kōdō exhibit prepared by the Dōjin Art Society, displayed in the Asian Centre foyer.

This spring, UBC Library was honoured to co-present a weekend of public incense gatherings and lectures on the Japanese incense tradition. Thoughtfully organized by the Dōjin Japanese Arts Society, the program allowed participants to experience incense culture through an array of activities centered around a keynote lecture and symposium on Friday, May 23, and public incense gatherings on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25.

Symposium

A well-attended symposium, emceed by Prof. Joshua Mostow (Asian Studies, UBC), featured a keynote lecture by Master NISHIGIWA Jhōyo, Headmaster Designate of the Senzan Goryū School of kōdō, Kyoto. Master Nishigiwa graciously introduced attendees to the rich and refined world of the incense ceremony, generously allowing them to touch and smell precious incense woods, an extraordinary opportunity rarely granted to the public.

Image: Master NISHIGIWA Jhōyo, Headmaster Designate of the Senzan Goryū School of kōdō, Kyoto. Photo credit: Xun Yu.

Participants also enjoyed a sweeping lecture by Prof. YANO Tamaki, Professor Emeritus at Saitama University and Dōshisha University, titled, “A History of Kōdō in Japan – From the Asuka Period to Oda Nobunaga.” This was followed by a captivating talk by Prof. YOTSUTSUJI Hideki, Special Curatorial Advisor of The Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya and Special Professor at Nagoya University of Economics. His presentation, “Incense Wood and Incense Utensils Inherited by Owari Tokugawa Family,” offered stunning visual insight into centuries of collected fragrant woods, ceremonial tools, and cultural artefacts curated by one of Japan’s most prestigious museums.

Image: Prof. YANO Tamaki delivers a talk on the history of incense in Japan. Photo credit: Xun Yu.

Image:Prof. YOTSUTSUJI Hideki presents a talk on incense woods and utensils at the Tokugawa Art Museum. Photo credit: Xun Yu.

Special Collection Viewing

Ahead of the symposium, participants were invited to view a curated selection of Edo-period materials from UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections. The display included three handcrafted, handwritten sets of uta-garuta (poetry card games). One featured the Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each) with each card embellished with gold background illustrations evoking poetic themes. Two additional sets each presented 209 poems from The Tales of Ise. Another highlight was an illustrated Utaawase (poetry matching contest) featuring poems from The Tale of Genji. These and other Edo-period recreational, literary, and cultural items offered a vibrant glimpse into the literary recreation and visual culture of early modern Japan.

Image: Special collection viewing at the Dodson Room, UBC Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. Photo credit: UBC Library Communications & Marketing.

Public Incense Ceremonies

Over the weekend, guests took part in immersive kōdō experiences at the Nitobe Memorial Garden and the Asian Centre on UBC’s Vancouver campus. In the Ichibōan tea house, visitors encountered a single-special incense (meikōgiki) session, appreciating the delicate character of rare incense wood in a peaceful, intimate setting. At the Asian Centre, they participated in a seasonally-themed scent-matching game (kumikō), discerning among multiple incense woods—an engaging and meditative exercise in sensory refinement. In between sessions, a bowl of matcha and traditional Japanese sweets offered a quiet moment of hospitality and reflection.

Image: A single-special incense (meikōgiki) session. Photo credit: Xun Yu.

Image: A scent-matching game (kumikō) in progress. Photo credit: Xun Yu.

The weekend’s programming was a wonderful reminder of the power of collaborative community efforts to bring cultural traditions to life in meaningful and accessible ways. Thanks to the generosity of our partners and the enthusiasm of all who attended, the series encouraged deep engagement with kōdō, an art form that quietly invites mindfulness, attention, and appreciation. We are grateful for the opportunity to have taken part in this shared experience.