Japanese Incense Ceremony: Koh-do Online Courses

Experience the timeless art of Japanese Incense Ceremony, Koh-do with Eriyo Watanabe – Master of Incense, Founder and Grand Master of the Renshin School of Incense. With over 20 years of practice and research, including field studies of agarwood and frankincense, and the creation of Juku-koh™ : Fermented Incense and Sho-koh™, she offers a rare opportunity to study Japanese Incense Ceremony as both cultural heritage and a living practice.

Koh-do, or The Way of Incense, is the Japanese Incense Ceremony—a refined and meditative art practiced for centuries as one of Japan’s classical traditions. Unlike tea or flowers, the aromatic woods used in Koh-do—especially Kyara, the highest grade of agarwood—have always been rare and precious. Historically, Kyara has been valued higher than gold by weight. This scarcity has preserved Koh-do as an art of quiet refinement, experienced by only a few. Yet it is not only about rarity. In today’s fast-paced world, Koh-do offers a way to slow down, enter a flow state, and reconnect with your senses and inner purpose, much like the philosophy of Ikigai. While Kyara remains precious, high-quality agarwood from Vietnam and sandalwood from India are more accessible and suitable for beginners worldwide. This means you can experience Koh-do without needing rare materials. A distinctive feature of the Renshin School of Incense is the use of Neri-koh, or Juku-koh™ : Fermented Incense, alongside aromatic woods. This blend has origins in the Heian period, and reviving this tradition reflects our spirit of returning to essential values and honoring the timeless beauty of incense. Through Mon-koh, listening to incense, you are invited to cultivate stillness, to listen to the quiet voice within, and to remember what truly matters—your purpose, the calling of your soul, and the delicate interconnection between human life and the natural world. In this way, the practice becomes not only a personal journey of awakening but also a gentle offering toward a more peaceful planet.

You will learn practical techniques for using incense to create a calming atmosphere, support mindfulness, and enrich moments of reflection, creativity, or personal ritual. Whether you wish to start your morning with clarity, mark transitions in your day, or prepare for restful sleep, incense can become a gentle companion on your path to more intentional living.

This one-on-one session offers a rare opportunity to be introduced to Koh-do: The Japanese Incense Ceremony directly with Master of Incense, Eriyo Watanabe.  You will learn about the basic philosophy and brief history of Koh-do, as well as the cultural role of precious woods such as Kyara and sandalwood. The session also gives a short introduction to Neri-koh (kneaded incense) and the Renshin School’s original creation, Juku-koh™: Fermented Incense.  As this is a private lesson, you will be asked in advance about your interests and your purpose in learning.  Some participants wish to deepen their study in order to teach or create their own incense, while others simply wish to enjoy refined incense at home and learn how to use it in an authentic way.  The curriculum will be flexible and tailored to your path, with time for your questions.

▪️Duration: 30–60 minutes (introductory session, adjusted to your needs)

▪️Tuition: from USD 500 (private session)

▪️Format: Zoom Online Lesson

1. Incense in Japan

2. How to Prepare the Incense Cup

3. Japanese Incense Ceremony for Wellbeing

1.  What is incense?

2.  Agarwood

3.  Sandalwood

4.  Frankincense

5.  Myrrh

6.  Amber

7.  Incense Sachet

8.  Powder Incense

9.  Neri-koh 

10. Incense Cones 

11. Expressive Arts Therapy to Enhance Imagination and Creativity 

12. Daily Ritual for Wellbeing and Prevention of Dementia