Eriyo Watanabe is a leading authority in the field of traditional Japanese incense ceremony and the founder of an interdisciplinary approach that integrates historical, therapeutic, and artistic perspectives on incense.  As the Grand Master of Renshin School of Incense and Director of the Incense Research Institute (IRI), she has dedicated over two decades to the advancement of incense studies and the development of original blends using natural and ethnically sourced materials, and the exploration of incense's role in sensory aesthetics and phycho-emotional well-being.  Her signature creation, "Fermented Lotus Incense," derived from Japanese lotus flowers and produced through a proprietary fermentation technique, has gathered critical acclaim for its innovation and cultural significance.  Watanabe's academic training includes coursework a the Sotheby's Institute of Art in London and a Master's Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy and Holistic Health from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  These studies, combined with her residence in London, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, and Boston, and her travels to over 50 countries, have shaped a global and intercultural perspective that informs her research and pedagogical methodologies.  She has delivered lectures and led workshops on the history and cultural function of incense at institutions such as the Embassies of Egypt and Oman in Japan, the Urasenke School of Tea, Yokohama Museum of Art, Yokohama International School, and the Embassy of Japan in India.  Her work has also been applied in cross-disciplinary contents through customized programs for leading global corporations, including SHISEIDO, ESTEE LAUDER, KIRIN, Unilever, Firmenich, and Hyatt Regency Kyoto.  In her capacity as an educator, Watanabe offers a structured online certification course for international students seeking formal training in Japanese incense practice and theory.  Her current research and outreach focus on the "Lotus Peace Project," a global initiative exploring the symbolic and healing dimensions of original lotus incense in the content of intercultural dialogue for world peace.