[Awaji, Hyogo] Learn from active craftsmen who preserve traditional handmade manufacturing methods and experience some of the processes involved in making incense, a traditional industry on Awaji Island, in a town of incense that has existed since the Edo period.

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• Approximately 70% of domestic incense is produced on Awaji Island. Many manufacturers are concentrated in the Ei district, and the pleasant aroma of incense fills the air as you walk through the town. It has even been selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment's "Top 100 Fragrant Landscapes." This incense manufacturer, established in 1905, maintains traditional handmade production methods. Learn about the history of Awaji Island incense, knowledge of its fragrance, and the manufacturing process from a master incense maker known as a "koshi." Experience a part of the manufacturing process while listening to a lecture from a veteran craftsman. After learning the basics of incense, you'll receive a lecture from a veteran craftsman and experience part of the actual manufacturing process. This is a rare opportunity to hear from a master incense maker! *The experience includes cutting the incense into bonkiri (a traditional Japanese incense stick) and skewering the incense raw.
• [Awaji Island, the birthplace of incense making: Ei]
• Ei, also known as Eiura, was the most prosperous port on Awaji Island, with a thriving shipping industry (maritime transport and commerce) since the early Edo period. However, in winter, the port is often closed due to seasonal winds, making it impossible to work. Men are away from home for about six months to work away from home. As a way to combat the winter's decline, incense production was suitable for women to do as a side job, and Eiura's climate and location were ideal for bringing in raw materials and transporting products, so incense production began.
• [Is it a coincidence? The history of fragrance]
• According to the Nihon Shoki, during the reign of Empress Suiko (Prince Shotoku's aunt), in 595 AD, a local resident casually burned a piece of wood that had washed up on the shores of Awaji Island, and a fragrant aroma wafted through the air. The resident quickly pulled the wood from the fire and presented it to the Imperial family. It is said that the Kannon statue at Horyuji Temple was carved out of this fragrant wood. The fragrant wood is still treasured today, and is enshrined as the sacred object of worship at Kareki Shrine.
• [Incense manufacturing process]
• 1. Mixing, Stirring, and Kneading: After mixing and stirring the ingredients according to the type of incense, dyes and water are added and kneaded while strictly controlling the temperature and humidity. *Incense is made from powdered bark from a tree called tabu, a member of the Lauraceae family, blended with various fragrant woods and fragrances. 2. Making the "neridama" (a type of incense ball). The mixture from step 1 is formed into a cylindrical shape approximately 30 cm in diameter. This block-like mass is called a "neridama." 3. Extrusion and Cutting: The neridama is placed in an extruder and passed through a metal hole called a "sugane" (a metal pin) to form a long string. (Bonkiri) The string-like material is collected on a tray and separated using a bamboo spatula. 4. Forming (Nama-tsuke) The string-like material is laid out tightly on a drying board and cut to the specified length (Dogiri) to straighten the shape. ⑤ Drying The drying board is moved to a drying room and exposed to the western wind to dry the string-like material naturally. Drying takes about 3-5 days. ⑥ Bundling and packaging