How to Listen to Incense

Kumikō (組香) is a game of incense where a literary or an artistic theme is expressed by a combination of several different kinds of incense woods, and the participants are expected to identify the fragrances as players of the game follow certain rules. The word “listen” is used instead of “smell” to reflect the subtle fragrance of the incense woods and the attention needed to appreciate them, as if one were to listen to a faint sound.

Once the kumiko session starts and a censer comes in front of the player, they should take the censer with the right hand, place it on the left palm, cover the censer with the right palm, and inhale deeply through the opening made by the thumb and the index finger, and exhale to the right side. After inhaling three times, the censer is passed on to the next player. The player is expected to listen closely and to memorize the characteristics of each fragrance, taking notes when necessary.

01:

At an incense gathering, the incense burner (kōro) is passed from the host (kōmoto) in a counter-clockwise direction. The burner is passed with the "listening opening" (kikiguchi) facing away from the recipient (toward the front).

02:

Hold the incense burner horizontally on the palm of your left hand. With your right hand, quietly rotate it counter-clockwise so that the listening opening faces you.

03:

Lightly cover the top of the incense burner with your right hand.

04:

Straighten your back and be careful not to tilt the burner. "Listen" to (smell) the fragrance through the space between your thumb and index finger.

04:

Take in the fragrance three times, as if breathing in deeply. This is called "Sansoku" (three breaths). Gently exhale the air you breathed in toward your right side. Since the quality of the fragrance cannot be maintained for those at the end of the line if one person holds the burner for too long, it is important to observe the three-breath rule.

05:

Rotate the burner clockwise so that the listening opening faces away from you again, and promptly pass it to the next guest.