2025.10.30

“Nippon Kodo Group 450th Anniversary Incense Ceremony” held in Paris and Geneva following Tokyo

Nippon Kodo Holdings Corporation (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) held the “Nippon Kodo Group 450th Anniversary Incense Ceremony” from September 10 to 18, 2025 in Paris, France, and Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the Group’s 450th anniversary project. These incense ceremonies were co-sponsored by the “Kodo Association” in France and the “Association Suisse-Japon, section Suisse romande” in Switzerland.

The events were held at the Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris(Japan Cultural Institute in Paris), the showroom of the ESTEBAN Paris of the Nippon Kodo Group, and the historic Maison Dufour (General Dufour House) in Geneva, welcoming participants into these prestigious spaces.

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The incense ceremonies were solemnly conducted by Master Gyoko Obata and Master Gyojun Hosokawa of the Kodo Oie-ryu with the cooperation of the Oie-ryu staff and the Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris. Participants experienced the profound world of incense, including the new group incense “Reishun-ko” created by the Sanjonish Gyousui clan to commemorate the 450th anniversary, the autumn-themed “Momiji-ko,” and the famous incense “Rakoku Shirabe”. In addition, new works by Hataman Toen Co., Ltd., a producer of Nabeshima ware in Saga Prefecture, added a touch of splendor to the ceremonies, and at the conclusion, a commemorative Junmai Ginjo sake “AKIGASUMI” brewed by Miyaizumi Meijo Co., Ltd. in Aizuwakamatsu and co-developed with Nippon Kodo, was served.

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A total of approximately 250 people from France and Switzerland participated in the events. In particular, on September 13, a special incense banquet for French political and business officials “la cérémonie spéciale du kôdô -dans le cadre du 450ème anniversaire de la fondation du groupe Nippon Kodo-“ was also held at the Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris, attracting a significant attention. Given France’s status as the home of perfumery, the attendance of many local perfumers and perfume industry professionals confirmed the high level of interest.

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This marks the sixth time the ceremony has been held in France since 1996, indicating steady expansion of Japan’s incense culture, with the Kodo Association now also holding monthly practice sessions. In addition to being the center of global perfume culture, in recent years, the growing interest in various aspects of Japanese culture, as well as meditation and mindfulness is also believed to be driving the interest in incense as a spiritual culture.

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The Nippon Kodo Group intends to build on this success and further deepen its collaboration with the Kodo Association, using France as a strategic base to spread Japan’s rich incense culture throughout Europe.

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This commemorative incense ceremony went far beyond a mere anniversary celebration. It marked a landmark moment in Paris—the epicenter of Western perfume culture—demonstrating how Kodo, Japan’s spiritual culture of scent, was embraced with keen interest by a wide audience, including dignitaries from the political and business worlds as well as fragrance professionals. Against the backdrop of rising global interest in mindfulness, the profound spirituality and cultural value of Kodo hold the potential to open up new frontiers in Europe.

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Video footage of the “Kodo ceremony of Nippon Kodo Group 450th anniversary ” at the Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris