Kumiko

Originally posted in Alices Restaurant in July, 2003

Here is a Kumiko or Incense Game for you. I don't think it's in Pybus
or Morita (Please correct me if I'm wrong) This would be a good one
to try with the incense-stick (senko) method I described earlier.

It is a little different than games like Genji Koh and Sanshu Koh in
that it uses "trial" incense like Jitchu-koh and the object is to
identify two of the incense you were allowed to try first, and
identify the third from not having smelled it in the trial, and you
try and guess them in the order they are served.

This is a game for Cherry Blossom season.

Kasumi Koh

In this game three different aloes woods are used.

Three packages of one are prepared and marked "Toyama" (Mountain in
the Distance) . One package is set aside as a trial incense.

Two packages of another aloeswood are prepared and
marked "Harukasumi" (Spring Mist). One package is set aside as a
trial incense.

One package of a third aloeswood is prepared and marked Sakura
(Cherry Blossom). No trial package is prepared.

Next the trial package of Toyama is placed on the Koro and passed
around the room. Contestants (Renshu) listen to the incense and make
notes, usually according to the characteristics: Sweet, Sour, Bitter,
Hot, and Salty, but any notation is allowed and if you recognize one
as one of the rikkoku, or feel it is similar to one of the rikkoku
then that may be noted as well.

The second serving is the trial package of Harukasumi, and it follows
the same guidelines as the first.

There is no trial sample of Sakura, and out of the six original
packages you have four left that haven't been examined. These four
packages are shuffled and then passed around for examination.

The object is to guess the order of the remaining four incenses. For
example: 1. Toyama, 2. Toyama, 3. Sakura, 4. Harukasumi