Kumiko – The Games Begin

In this series I am going to skip the details of preparing the Kodo cup for presenting the incense to the group playing the games. You can find instructions on preparing the cup for “listening” at the Japanese Incense website. The instructions there are adequate to present an informal ceremony.

As far as the formal presentation, I feel this is something that should be observed in person and conducted by someone trained in the traditional Japanese Iemoto system. This will give you the fullest experience possible.

However, conducting your own, or attending an incense ceremony conducted by someone with no official training is a great way to enjoy wonderful aromas and have fun testing your skills at identification. Later, if you do go to Japan you will be better prepared to enjoy the experience.

Informal Incense Ceremonies have a history of their own. Before Kodo there were informal and semi-formal incense parties called Koh-Kwai. The “Game of Ten” from those times is still used today.

To prepare your own Incense Ceremony I recommend recruiting people to help with the event. You need help to prepare and serve Tea Sweets and Tea, and if you’re really lucky perhaps you can find a student of Chado (Way of Tea) to make Matcha for you. If not, serve your favorite Green Tea.

I presented one game earlier (Kasumi-ko). You can find other games online or in books.

Here is one of my favorites:

Sanshu Koh (Game of Three)

The Contestant

This Kumiko is based on guessing which Incense is the same or different. As a player you will examine three cups of incense. On your score card you will register which were the same. For example: You feel the first and second cups are the same and the third is different. Write down your guess and it will be picked up by the scorekeeper.

The Komoto

Traditionally, the Komoto prepares nine envelopes, numbering three of them #1, three of them #2, and three of them #3. Next the Komoto places three samples of one type of aloeswood in envelope #1. Next comes three samples of a different incense in envelope #2. Follow suit on the last type.

After all envelopes are prepared the Komoto wil shuffle the envelopes and chooses three. This makes the total of five possibilities: All same, All different, 1 & 2 same, 1 & 3 same, 2 & 3 same.

There are, of course, an enormous number of games. Many can be found in books on Kodo or on the Internet searching “Kumiko” I saw some very nice presentations.

David