√595 - Exploring the Root of Scent from Awajishima, Japan
It was a striking encounter with the scent of √595. The natural incense stick is often rather too decent or weak which is inevitable because of its nature. In other words, it’s very difficult to make a good natural incense stick without adding synthetic ingredient. It’s just as difficult as making a perfume completely naturally.
The scent artist, Kan Izumi, and one of the oldest established Japanese incense manufacture based in Awajishima teamed up and made it possible.
Pease come by to ‘‘listen to’’ this precious artisanal scent of √595 at Onoda.
About √595
In the summer of 595, agarwood drifted ashore on Awaji island.
This is the oldest record of incense described in Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan).Incense culture in Japan was spread through religious customs and aristocratic society. Since the establishment of the'incense ceremony' during the Muromachi period (16th century), the culture developed on its own and built a lasting foundation in Japan. Awaji island-where the legend of agarwood is deeply connected to the history of incense-started producing incense during the Late Edo period (19th century) and now leads the nation in its production.
The name √595 refers to Awaji's unique history and role in incense production, which we use like an algebraic coefficient to analyze methods and processes, disentangle the roots of scent from their assumed forms, and explore new possibilities.
We travel between past and future by combining traditional incense production methods and our work with artists, designers and experts in a variety of fields in researching the materials and the method of blending to create new sources and uses for incense.
