A Japanese woman holds incense during a traditional ceremony

January 8, 1999
Web posted at: 8:22 p.m. EST (0122 GMT)

(CNN) -- A new interest in the ancient traditions of Japan has smoked up some long-treasured aromas. The Kohdoh, or incense ceremony, older than the well-known tea ceremony, has survived 13 centuries to regain popularity in a generation looking to the past.

Once common among aristocracy, the tradition started to dwindle in the 17th century. Today only about 10,000 people participate in the slow and silent burning ritual.

But one of Japan's most respected incense and tea ceremony masters, Shugen Hachiya, says the practice has been rejuvenated by an overall revival in Japanese culture.

Each year, about 500 women and men of high society attend a grand ceremony at Hachiya's home in Tokyo. Cameras are never allowed -- Hachiya says they disturb the peace of the ceremony.

Various Japanese incenses

"We have to listen to the incense and imagine various objects and use our recollections to re-create a unique world within our imaginations," he says.

Japanese incense uses a variety of ingredients -- the most common are spices, sandalwood and frankincense. They are heated carefully to release aromas with little smoke.

At the incense school above the Shoyeido shop, in the old downtown district of Nihonbashi, Mayumi Takayama, 23, is the youngest student the school has had for a while.

Shoyeido, established in 1702, has lasted 11 generations. It is one of the few stores in Japan that sells a complete collection of incense blocks (2, 500 varieties) and the instruments needed for a ceremony.

Takayama says for her, the ceremony's allure is in its relaxing atmosphere -- one that carries her far away from her reality of the modern world.

Reuters contributed to this report.