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#889 A lesson of “Kodo”~traditional Japanese incense art~


↑This is a “koro”.

I had a trial lesson of “Kodo”, a kind of traditional Japanese incense art.

Cha-do, Ka-do and Ko-do are the three major traditional performing arts in Japan.

There were a master, a server and 11 students. All the students including myself, were new to Kodo. We learned how to smell and hold the koro (an incense burner) our own hands. After smelling the incense, you have to turn your face to the left to breath out every time.

We learned a Kodo game.


The rule was that we smelled three koros and had to find out the difference. Two of the koros had the same smell. We just need to pick the one that is unique. The smell was not as distinguishable as I expected. They all smelled nice, gentle, and a little bit sweet.
Actually I couldn’t tell which one was which. I felt it was difficult for me.

“asagao”? or “hirugao”?


After we finished smelling the three koros we wrote our answer on our own small piece of paper. The answer were represented by 3 types of flowers. If the first koro is unique, you choose the “asagao” as your answer. If you choose the second koro, the flower is “hirugao”. The third koro is “yugao”. That is sophisticated, isn’t it?

Then the master wrote our individual answers on a paper with a brush. Her handwriting was beautiful. 9 out of 11 students were correct.
I got it wrong, so I was a little embarresed.

Yukata matches the night

I think it was a precious experience and enjoyed it very much.
Moreover I was happy to see that 5 people put on kimono and yukata in the lesson.
Wearing yukata matches the summer night, especially, that night.

Small joy!!(2017.7.23)


↑higashi (dry confectionery)

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nako

日々の小さな喜び(Small Joys)を英語と日本語で紹介しています。 1000個のSmall Joysまでブログを続けていきます。
2017-08-07 | Posted in English2 Comments » 

コメント2件

 yoko | 2017.08.08 20:17

難しいことはよく分からないけど、お香は好きだわ。
昔はよくお香屋さんで買って、焚いていました。
香炉に乗せて、本格的に、じゃないけどね。
nakoさんは、どんな香りが気に入りましたか?

アバター画像 nako | 2017.08.08 22:42

お香は、好きな香りを言えるほど知識がないのです。
今回体験させてもらった香木はとてもいいものと聞きました。
しかし私は外しました。
人生で嗅いだことのない香りだったのだと思います。
前世が貴族じゃなかったんでしょうね。

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