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

Approximately 70% of domestic incense sticks are manufactured on Awaji Island. Among them, the Ei district is where many manufacturers gather, and you can smell the delicious aroma of incense as you walk through the town. It has even been selected as one of the "100 Scented Landscapes" by the Ministry of the Environment. This is a valuable experience where you can visit an incense manufacturer that has been manufacturing incense since 1905 and still maintains traditional handmade manufacturing methods, learn about the history of Awaji Island incense sticks, knowledge of fragrance, and the manufacturing process from a fragrance master called a "Koshi", and experience part of the manufacturing process while receiving a lecture from a veteran craftsman. After learning the basics of incense from a fragrance master called a "Koshi" at an incense manufacturer on Awaji Island, which accounts for approximately 70% of the domestic incense market, you will receive a lecture from a veteran craftsman and experience part of the actual manufacturing process. It is a valuable opportunity to listen to the craftsman's story! *The experience will involve cutting the sticks into bonkiri (a bonkiri stick) and putting them raw on the sticks.

Ei, also known as Eiura, was the most prosperous port on Awaji Island from the early Edo period, with its thriving shipping industry (maritime transport and commerce). 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 find work elsewhere. As a way to combat the winter's devastation, incense production was suitable for women to do at home, and Eiura's climate and location were ideal for bringing in raw materials and transporting the finished products, so incense production began.

According to the Nihon Shoki, in the era of Empress Suiko (the aunt of Prince Shotoku) in 595 AD, a resident of Awaji Island casually burned a piece of wood that had washed up on the shores of the island. When a fragrant aroma wafted from the wood, the resident quickly pulled it out of 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 deity of Kareki Shrine.

① Blending, stirring, kneadingThe ingredients for the type of incense are mixed and stirred, and then dyes and water are added while strictly controlling the temperature and humidity. *The ingredients for incense are made from powdered bark of a tree called Tabu, which is a type of Lauraceae, mixed with various fragrant woods and fragrances. ② Making the "neridama"The mixture made in step ① is molded into a cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 30 cm. This block-shaped mass is called a "neridama". ③ Extrusion and cuttingThe neridama is placed in an extruder and passed through a metal hole called a "sugane" to make it into a long string-like shape. (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 lined up on a drying board with no gaps, cut to the specified length (Dogiri), and the shape is straightened. 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 Binding and packaging