The Japan–U.S. KODO Initiative presents an immersive program introducing Kodo, the Japanese Way of Incense, through a guided workshop, a Genjiko (Genji Incense) game based on The Tale of Genji, and an installation by artist Mari Inagaki. Participants will be invited to “listen” to fragrance as a contemplative, embodied experience.

There will be a session at 12pm and one at 3:30pm, both with limited seating.

About Kodo – The Japanese Way of Incense

Kodo, or the Way of Incense, emerged around 500 years ago in Japan, in the same cultural milieu that gave rise to the tea ceremony and flower arrangement.

Under the patronage of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Kodo developed as a refined art form that paired fragrant woods with classical Japanese poetry. Using codified styles known as Rikkoku Gomi (the “six countries and five flavors” of incense), practitioners “listen” to incense in structured games called kumiko.

One of the most beloved of these is Genjiko (Genji Incense), inspired by the 11th-century literary classic The Tale of Genji. Participants identify and record subtle differences in fragrance, linking each pattern to chapters of the tale.

In Kodo, people say they “listen to incense” rather than “smell it.” The practice emphasizes attention, observation, and quiet concentration. For this reason, Kodo has recently attracted interest in Japan and France as a form of mindfulness rooted in classical culture.

Participants will experience:

KODO Installation by Mari Inagaki: An immersive installation featuring projection-mapped photographs by artist Mari Inagaki will precede the workshop. Inspired by the Japanese concept of “listening to fragrance,” the work brings together visual expression and the spirit of Kodo, inviting participants to tune their attention to what is subtle, unseen, and sensed rather than simply perceived.

History of KODO: An introduction to the historical and cultural background of Kodo, its relationship to tea ceremony and other traditional arts, and its development as a classical Japanese practice.

About KODO & How to Enjoy KODO: A guided explanation of key concepts, tools, and manners in Kodo, including how to “listen” to incense with focused, quiet awareness.

Monko Experience: A focused “listening to incense” practice in which participants receive the censer, bring it close, and quietly attune to the fragrance. This portion of the workshop emphasizes posture, breathing, and attentive listening to a single incense offering, introducing the core contemplative experience at the heart of Kodo.

Genjiko Experience: A participatory Genjiko session in which guests experience fragrant woods, record their impressions, and engage with the literary and playful aspects of this classical incense game.